Heavy rains: NCAA warns pilots against impatience

Posted by admin Headlines Thursday, July 5th, 2012

IN view of an earlier prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) of impending heavy rains attached with storms, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday, issued a circular to pilots and airline operators in the country, to exercise restraint while the period lasts.

NCAA in the circular cautioned pilots and operators against being in haste, in view of the imminent hazards synonymous with bad weather, which makes visibility very poor.

The NCAA circular partly stated, ”this circular is to reiterate the need for pilots to exercise restraint when adverse weather is observed or forecast, and be patient enough to wait and allow it subside or pass over the airfield before commencing flight.

“We are in the mid-stream of rainy season, which is usually characterised by severe thunderstorms, line squall, with their attendant turbulence, microbusts, lightning and low-level wind shear.”

Giving the warning, NCAA said such weather conditions can be “deadly to aircraft on approach or departure from an airport, as it had been responsible for a number of fatal accidents in the world and in our country, Nigeria.”

“It is, therefore, mandatory for pilots to obtain weather briefing from the NIMET, including departure, enroute and destination weather information prior to flight operations.”

The regulatory body, therefore, cautioned pilots and operators to ensure that they comply strictly with the laid down regulations.

-Tribune

wp_posts