NCAA Releases New Procedure Manual for Airlines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has launched a newly developed air navigation procedural manual called Performance Based Navigation (PBN) for airlines operating in the country.

The manual according to the regulatory body contains all requirements and procedures airlines must adhere to in their operations.

The new air navigation procedure is expected to save flight time and fuel consumption for airlines.

The NCAA’s Director General, Dr Usman Muthar, who disclosed in an interview said the manual was launched to raise the level of awareness for the users of the concept and all the stakeholders in the industry.

Muthar said the manual would provide guidance to airline operators on how to comply with the requirements for the PBN operations.

The NCAA chief said the authority would work round the clock at ensuring its full implementation before the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s Audit by June, 2015.

Muthar said that it would continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure it realised the full benefit of the PBN.

He said like any other programme, the implementation is not without challenges as the facility provided by PBN has not been fully utilised in the country.

“The industry must work together to ensure that Nigeria realises the full benefits of PBN.”

He said the PBN would provide operators with greater operators return, reduce aircraft congestion in the airspace, conserve aircraft fuel, protect the environment for the aircraft and improve operational efficiency of aircraft control.

“The new procedures will increase the airspace capacity, it will reduce the ground navigational base and greatly reduce aircraft noise,” he said.

The NCAA boss said the authority would collaborate with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to provide an adequate surveillance for safe airspace.

“In compliance with the PBN, the NAMA and NCAA will train more Air Traffic Controllers (ATC), we will provide procedures for granting of operational approval. We will provide procedure for granting Airworthiness approval,” he said.

He explained that the country chose to implement PBN because of the immense benefits stakeholders in the industry would derive from it.

He said the implementation of PBN procedures was already in place at some airports including:  Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA).

He said air operators shall obtain the operational and Air Worthiness approval to execute any PBN procedure.

He said PBN would be a stepping stone for other development in the industry.