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Airports: Counting the gains of new runway, Airfield Lighting
January 7, 2009
Airports: Counting the gains of new runway, airfield lighting
By the time the
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, which has in recent times embarked on infrastructural
development to enhance safety of flight operations and match the growth of the airline industry, would leave no stone unturned across the country in its quest to reposition the Authority for better service to
stakeholders, according to its helmsman, Richard Aisuebeogun.
The efforts are in conformity with international best practices and standards as prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Federal Government's ports reform programme, with the vision of providing a safe, secure and efficient transportation system for the country. With contractors already remobilised to site and no other delay, the MAKIA project will be completed in a couple of weeks, FAAN has assured. Prompt and efficient execution of all approved capital projects by FAAN and other agencies has been the matching order of the versatile Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, to the agencies. The minister vowed never to compromise safety. His top priority is to improve standards. Perhaps that explains why the civil engineer/chartered accountant is putting the aviation agencies on their toes.
The vision of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Omotoba, who is bringing his private sector experience
to bear on the aviation industry, aviation pundits like Deba Uwadiae and Lateef Lawal, believed, could be
accomplished with the positive imputs of Aisuebeogun and some other professionals in FAAN for instance.
The December 20, 2008 re-opening of the runway 18L/36R of the
are testimonies to the good works being undertaken by the incumbent management of FAAN.
The reopening of the second
almost two years ago, is remarkable in many senses. According to Aisuebeogun, the exercise signifies
FAAN's efforts at repositioning the nation's airports for improved service delivery. A one-time Director of Flight Operations of the liquidated Nigeria Airways and President, Aviation Round Table, Capt. Dele
He, however, believed that the completion of the project supposed to have come on board before now.
control clearances will also be more efficient, while passengers could move as scheduled without disruption in their programmes.
"The present management of FAAN has put in place tremendous positive changes since it came on board and should be commended and encouraged to do more. The fact remains that the delay in the completion of the project like many others in the aviation industry had to do with the political instability in the system, where every minister appointed, changes helmsmen of the agencies. We have had 32 ministers since independence. This affects the execution of the projects as might have been originally planned. The
new minister should encourage relaxed atmosphere for people to perform."�
The Secretary General of the Aviation Roundtable, Mr. Sam Olu Akerele, also noted that the reopening of the runway has brought an end to two years of considerable operational difficulty, occasioned by aircraft on domestic operations having to taxi for a long distance before take off. "With the reopening of the runway, the delay associated with landing is reduced, the long period used in taxing is reduced, about 30 minutes or more an aircraft uses burning fuel is reduced. All these imply that the airlines would be making more profit," Akerele added. Akerele, however, believed that the management of FAAN would make a brilliant feat of the exercise with the prompt installation of the airfield lighting system for the runway.
He added, "The Federal Government should draw a marshal plan on how to improve aviation infrastructure. Take for instance, the MMA. The cooling system there has to be improved upon. The same
applies to the capacity of the arrival hall. Airlines should be encouraged to build terminals at the
international wing of the airport, with some tax relief offered, as the case in many parts of the world."
The Director of Corporate Affairs of the Afrijet Airlines, Alhaji Muhammed Tukur, who spoke in the same
vein, noted that the reopening of the runway has so far fostered operational efficiency, as passenger and
cargo facilitation has become faster and more cost effective. The aviation experts invariably gave kudos to the present administration and the FAAN management for ensuring the resumption of night flight operations at the
Omotoba, had flagged off the resumption of night operations at the airport after about two years since
such operation took place there. The airport's runway was re-opened for daylight operations when the civil
works on its runway resurfacing project were completed in December 2007. All the domestic airlines, including Aero-Contractors, Arik Air, Virgin Nigeria Airways and Chanchangi Airlines, that operated daylight operations to and out of the airport before the resumption of the 24-hour operation following the installation of the airfield lighting system there, have continued their services, with most of them operating into the night. Two others, Afrijet Airlines and Bellview Airlines have also begun operations at the airport following the latest development.
Air
latest development, has continued to maintain its normal schedule. The French carrier has, however, indicated that it might start night operation at the airport with bigger aircraft before the end of the first quarter of 2009. Other airlines and ground handling companies have also been availing themselves of the 24-hour operation at the airport. Officials of the airline expressed satisfaction over the airfield lighting system now in place at the airport.
Captains Miroslav Ratkovic and Ndubuisi Ekwenpu of the Arik Air, told journalists in
"approach lights are good and the surface is better compared to the experience of the past." According to
Aisuebeogun observed that the resumption of night operations has retuned the
its rightful place as one of the more viable and investment-friendly airports in the country. The FAAN boss observed that the AFL project, which provided for CAT 1 lighting standards at the airport, would be upgraded in March 2009 to CAT 111. Apart from the brand new runway, the FAAN management under Aisuebeogun could also boast of a new protocol lounge, an ultra modern cargo warehouse, fire station
and improved power and water system, among other essential facilities. Aisuebeogun hinted that efforts
were in top gear to expand the passenger apron of the airport and build a modern, more befitting terminal
building on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
Omotoba had earlier at
directed the management of FAAN to ensure speedy completion of all allied works at the airport.
"The team that worked on this project should be commended. I believe we have a strong team on ground
that would take aviation to the next level," he added.
FAAN to ensure that the runways, AFLs and other infrastructure so far put in place were properly maintained.
