NAAE endorses navigational equipment, decries dearth of personnel

The President of National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE) Engr Ishaya Chuwang Dung says the country’s aviation navigational aids are working optimally assuring air passengers of safe flights.

Speaking in an interview with aviation journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the just concluded air traffic controllers’ annual general meeting, Dung explained that pilots and airspace users were satisfied with the operational level of equipment provided by the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to ensure seamless operations.

“The airspace is safe; and there has been a great improvement in the navigational aids, especially in the area of communications and we are ready to fix all non functional equipment to ensure seamless operations in the country’s airspace.”

The NAAE president assured of stabilizing the system through unity in NAMA, especially with other professional colleagues to achieve the aims and objectives of NAMA noting, that disunity has been the bane of the association.

Dung pledged to work together with other associations; stressing that the emergence of Capt Fola Akinkuotu, as the NAMA boss, has cemented the relationship between workers and other professional bodies in the agency.

On workers’ remuneration, the NAAE leader said there was room for improvement, as workers were still agitating for enhanced salary, but added that the management was working on welfare package for workers especially NAAE.

He however decried the shortage of personnel in the engineering department, saying that the attention of management has been drawn to it.

He also decried the challenges posed by adequate auto parts to work with and unstable power supply; and advised the management to replace spare parts.

While stressing the need for training and retraining, the NAAE boss assured that engineers would continue to partner management to ensure safer airspace.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo