By Louis Ibah

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is to deploy new aircraft navigational facilities to replace obsolete ones at the Kaduna, Jos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Benin airports, says Director, Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES) of the agency, Mr. Umar Ahmad Faruk.
Faruk also said NAMA is reconfiguring its facilities to tap into renewable energy sources, with solar power installations now the policy for all navigational and communications field equipment. According to him, NAMA is determined, by the end of 2018, to ensure that all its equipment are solar powered. He noted that the process of conversion, modifications and testing are already in full gear.
He said NAMA would also be extending the Omni Directional Radio Range (VHF) coverage in northern Nigerian airports to address the communication challenges between the airports and pilots.
Some of the new facilities to be installed at the designated Nigerian airports include Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs) like the Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).
The DME is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures slant range distance by timing the propagation delay of VHF or UHF radio signals, just as this would help to enhance pilot-air traffic controller communication.
Faruk stated that similarly, 10 watt radios are already in place with the capacity to cover 150 nautical miles on aerodrome and approach, adding that the requirement is 70 miles coverage.
He further disclosed that the equipment for both Lagos West and East, and Kano West and East have the capacity to cover 241 nautical miles at 41,000 feet and beyond, depending on the line of sight.
He said the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), in full collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), has developed Standard Training Packages (STPs) covering power systems and navigational aids.

Related News