NCAA alerts pilots, operators to take caution over bad weather

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on pilots and airline operators to be alert and take extreme caution over the current hazardous weather which tends to affect smooth flight operations.

In its Aviation Weather Advisory Circular to pilots and airline operators, the  NCAA said pilots should expect severe dust and harmattan haze as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

The Director General of (DG) f NCAA, Capt Musa Nuhu, who signed the circular, disclosed that the hazy weather would persist till March 22.

Capt Nuhu explained that during the season, pilots and operators should expect “moderate to severe dust haze, early morning fog especially along the coastal areas, which in some instances can reduce horizontal visibility to less than 200 metres during the period of November, 2021, to March, 2022.”

According to him, there would be air-to-ground visibility reduction due to dust haze or fog while aerodrome visibility might fall below the prescribed operating minima.

He stated further that “In severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lighting over wide areas, making visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.”

The DG noted the effects on aircraft operations adding that “Flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima.”

Accordingly, he advised on strict adherence to published aerodrome weather minima by flight crews/operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC).