NAAE decries dearth of manpower, inadequate working tools

The National Association of Aircraft Engineers (NAAE) has decried the shortage of manpower and inadequate operational vehicles in its stations across the country’s airport to effectively carryout smooth operations.

The National President of NAAE, Engr Ishaya Dung who stated this in a chat with aviation reporters in Lagos during the commemoration of the 2020 world  ATSEP day, also revealed that dearth of personnel has greatly affected the performance of Engineers in meeting up with their statutory obligations.

Dung explained that the shortage of operational vehicle has remained its greatest challenge in carrying out their functions.

According to him, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority required that each of the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance  department in each airport is supposed to have a dedicated operational vehicle attached to it to facilitate its operations.

He also stated that the disadvantage of not having enough training was dragging the engineers backwards in the discharge of their duties.

According to him, the responsibilities performed rest on the shoulders of fewer engineers as a result of lack of adequate training.

He noted that as a result of the shortage of Engineers some of them travel from Lagos to PH and other airports when issues arise to address some challenges that surpassed engineers on ground there.

Dung who said apart from the above challenges, the management of NAMA has improved tremendously on the communication equipment across the country. “We have adequate navigation surveillance coverage within the Nigeria airspace.

“I wouldn’t say we have enough man power,but the status is not also too poor. We keep drawing the attention of the management of NAMA to some of these issues .

NAMA has about 500 engineers across the airports in the country and still required more hands for effective coverage, as stated by Dung.

Dung said over 150 engineers have been licensed since he came on board three years ago.