Bad weather forces NCAA to lower minimum visibility for takeoff, landing

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have lowered minimum visibility for takeoff and landing of flights for 18 airports.

According to a statement signed by Sam Adurogboye, NCAA spokesman, this was done to reduce flight delays and cancellations caused by poor visibility resulting from harmattan haze.

This new minimum visibility, 150 metres, will take effect on Thursday.

Before the revision, average minimum visibility was 800 metres. Flights can now operate when visibility is 150 metres, depending on the available navigational aids.

“This present review allows for takeoff as low as 150 metres Runway Visual Range (RVR). While some airports in the country with Category Two Instrument Landing Systems (ILS Cat II) can permit landing with 300 metres Runway Visual Range (RVR).

“Before this review, the lowest visibility with Category Two ILS in the nation’s airports was 800 metres/550 RVR (Runway Visual Range).

“Based on the review, the following airports now have ILS Cat II approach and landing minima, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Dutse, Eket and Enugu. Others are Gombe, Ilorin, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola and Zaria.”

The NCAA said the last time weather minima were actually reviewed was in 1983.

A similar revision in 1993 only said the takeoff minima should be equal or greater than landing minima at all airports.

“This is to allow for an air return to the same airport should there arise an emergency,” the NCAA said.

The NCAA said the review was in compliance with the provision of Part 8 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs Part 8), and in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Doc.9365.

“In this review, the regulatory authority took cognisance of improvements in visual and navigational aids within the affected airports.

“The reviewed aerodrome operating minima would serve to enhance the operating capacity of the aerodromes. This is due to the fact that it will avail the operators with improved minima for low visibility operations.”

It said the implementation of the revised aerodrome operating minima (both takeoff and landing) shall be based on compliance with applicable standard operating procedures for low visibility operations at the affected airports.