NCAA to sanction stakeholders over non compliance to weather advice

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that stakeholders that do not adhere to the weather information in the course of their duties would be properly sanctioned.

The Authority said this while cautioning all Pilots over severe thunderstorms and other hazardous weather which hamper flight operations especially now that raining is here.

This warning was a follow up to the Advisory Circular (AC) with reference no AC: NCAA-AEROMET – 31 addressed to all Pilots and Airline Operators and signed by its Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu. This was coming on the advent of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for the year 2021. NIMET had predicted early/late

March as the commencement of rainy season in the Southern states while late April/June 2021 is the commencement of rainy season in Central and Northern parts of Nigeria. NCAA in a press statement said this weather advisory circular was therefore necessary to bring forth the evolving weather information associated with commencement of rainy season and the effects on safety and efficiency of flight operations; and to elicit cooperation of the stakeholders to ensure safety air transport at all times.

“Therefore, Pilots, Operators and Air Traffic Controllers are directed to observe series of responsibilities enumerated below forthwith: “Air Traffic Controllers may temporarily close the airspace when any of the conditions in (1) are observed or forecast by NIMET; “Flight

Crews/Operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to ensure adherence to published aerodrome weather minima;

“Pilots to exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by NIMET; “Pilots/Flight Crew members to obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET Aerodrome Meteorological Offices prior to flight operations.

“While the Authority enjoins all passengers to exercise patience and understanding during this period of heavy downpour, strict compliance to this warning is expected from all stakeholders as maximum sanction shall be imposed for noncompliance,” the statement read.