Pilots and airline operators were cautioned by the Federal Government on Thursday of severe weather during the dry season, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
Flights where terminal visibility falls below the specified aerodrome operating minima will inevitably be delayed, redirected, or cancelled, according to the statement.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency issued a release telling the public that there could be a decline in visibility due to dust haze that has been spotted spreading into Nigeria from its source location. This release included a warning of hazardous weather, according to the controller.
There would be a decrease in air-to-ground visibility owing to haze, dust, or fog, according to a statement listing the impacts of this meteorological condition on aircraft operations.
It described the safety procedures, which included air traffic controllers closing the airspace if any of the previously listed conditions were seen or predicted by NIMET.
NCAA revealed in a statement signed by the Director-General, Musa Nuhu “Strict adherence to published aerodrome weather minima by flight crews/operators and air traffic controllers.
“Pilots/flight crew members shall obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET aerodrome meteorological offices and stations prior to flight operations and exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed.
“And operators shall ensure that all necessary measures are put in place to cushion the effects of delay or cancellations on their passengers.”
The authority also noted that “winds over 10m and 925hPha are favourable for dust-haze propagations into the Northern parts of the country,” as stated by NIMET in a release.
It clarified that, according to available models, these sources from Chad were anticipated to report poor horizontal visibility within the next twenty-four hours.
Strong winds were predicted by the agency to spread the suspended dust to several Northern states, further reducing horizontal visibility, particularly over Katsina, Kano, Nguru, Jigawa, Potiskum, and Maiduguri during the course of the next 24 hours.
According to the agency, “Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed operating minima and in severe conditions, dust haze can blot out runways, markers and airfield lightings over wide areas making visuals navigation extremely difficult or impossible.
“And flights are bound to be delayed, diverted or cancelled where terminal visibility falls below the prescribed aerodrome operating minima. In view of the above, all pilots, operators and air traffic controllers are obliged to abide by these safety requirements.”
According to the statement, the information was sent to pilots in order to warn them of the types of weather that can occur during Nigeria’s dry season, including light to severe dust clouds and fog in the mornings, which can occasionally cause horizontal vision to drop below the minimum required by the aerodrome.
