The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Air Traffic Controllers

  • Group seeks recruitment of Air Traffic Controllers

    Group seeks recruitment of Air Traffic Controllers

    The Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has stressed the urgent need to recruit and train additional Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) to man the country’s airspace to mitigate fatigue and ensure optimal safety and efficiency in airspace management.

    Speaking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos in an interview, its President, Mr. Amos Edino, said the current shortage of ATCOs has resulted in excessive workload, prolonged duty hours, and increased stress levels, negatively impacting both performance and well-being.

    He noted that ATCOs are often required to work beyond the standard two-hour shift limit per session, with some working four to five hours continuously due to manpower constraints.

    Edino further expressed concerns over the rapid establishment of new airports by various state governments without a corresponding plan for staffing and operational management, exacerbating the shortage of licensed ATCOs.

    He underscored the limitations of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, in training the required number of ATCOs. While the government recently initiated the recruitment of over 200 cadets, the selection process was flawed due to a lack of due diligence in assessing qualification requirements.

    He also noted that NCAT does not have the capacity both in terms of facilities and instructional manpower to train such a large number of cadets simultaneously.

     As a result, he noted, the current administration, through the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has sought intervention from the Nigerian Air Force ATS Training School in Kaduna to complement training efforts.

    On the issue of remuneration, Edino decried the fact that Nigerian ATCOs remained the least paid in Africa despite the critical role they play in ensuring the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic.

    He urged the government to review the salary structure to reflect international best practices and enhance motivation within the profession.

    Edino also expressed his concerns on the current practice of rehiring retired ATCOs on contract, stating that a more sustainable approach would be to extend the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

    Read Also: Abdulrazaq flags off Kwara agro input fair, recommits to food security

    This he said would allow for knowledge transfer, mentorship, and continuity within the profession, similar to the ones extended to health workers and teachers.

    The NATCA boss further explained that commercial pilots stay up to 65 years of age before retiring and advocated for an improved retirement package to discourage post-retirement contract engagements.

    Edino emphasized the need for a comprehensive health care package for ATCOs, noting that prolonged exposure to radiation in radar facilities has led to cancer-related health challenges. “There have been documented instances of ATCOs succumbing to cancer-related ailments, necessitating immediate attention to mitigate occupational health hazards,” he said.

    On challenges of infrastructure, Edino lamented the poor working conditions at several control towers and operational rooms, pointing out that in many locations, non-functional elevators forced controllers including female and pregnant ATCOs, to climb over 250 steps daily to access their workstations, with reported cases of miscarriages linked to these strenuous conditions.

    He further noted that many ATC work environments are equipped with outdated systems, adversely affecting efficiency and safety.

    In the area of Air Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), he emphasized the need for an urgent upgrade of the current surveillance system, the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system, which has exceeded its intended operational lifespan “initially designed to serve for 10 years, the system is now almost 20 years old, significantly reducing its reliability, availability and integrity” .

    “The long-standing challenge of the efficiency of the communication system in Nigerian ATC operations also requires immediate modernisation for the provision of safe and efficient Air Traffic Control Services,” he said.

    He further called for the provision of facilities and equipment to enhance coordination with adjacent Flight Information Regions (FIRs), and other ATC units.

    Despite these challenges, NATCA acknowledged ongoing efforts of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) under the leadership of Managing Director Ahmed Umar Farouk. He commended the administration’s commitment to addressing these long-standing issues expressing NATCA’s willingness to collaborate in achieving a safer and more efficient Air Traffic Management System.

    “This is a defining moment for the agency. If NAMA successfully resolves these persistent challenges, it will be a lasting legacy for the leadership team, ensuring that Nigeria’s ATC system ranks among the best globally,” Edino said.

  • Dearth of air traffic controllers triggers global concerns

    Dearth of air traffic controllers triggers global concerns

    Shortage of air traffic controllers is giving Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs), airlines and other players in the global air travel space serious concern.

    With thousands of personnel in the profession due for retirement, their replacement does not readily come through because of the intense training, certification and licensing required to operate in the mix.

    Besides air traffic controllers, other professionals also face severe shortage, forcing the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to mandate countries to work out replacement plans.

    ICAO  anticipates growth for commercial air travel in the years running to 2030.

    According to ICAO, more than two million jobs were projected for pilots, maintenance personnel and air traffic controllers as a result of the development.

    According to a study published by the ICAO- Global and Regional 20-year Forecasts – Pilots, Maintenance Personnel and Air Traffic Controllers, the body  estimates the number of commercially-operated aircraft would have jumped from 61,833  to 151,565 in 20 years.

    It projects  that  the number of departures would move  from about 26 million to almost 52 million.

    Read Also: CBN to banks: be prudent, save forex revaluation gains

    The ICAO study compares the average number of professionals worldwide that will need to be trained yearly with the training capacity of the facilities. It  shows a shortfall of training capacity equivalent to 160,000 pilots, 360,000 maintenance personnel, and 40,000 air traffic controllers.

    “If no action to increase training capacity is initiated early, shortages in qualified aviation personnel are likely. Thanks to this latest ICAO study, the extent and locations of such shortages ca be better identified and effectively addressed by member-states, industry and other concerned stakeholders,” said the global body.

    As part of its mission to maintain the safety of the global air transport, ICAO is providing leadership in the development of solutions aimed at ensuring that sufficient competent personnel are available. A Next-Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) symposium convened last year by ICAO outlined  strategies for the recruitment, education, training and retention of aviation professionals.

    But, Nigeria is not complying with some provisions for recruiting personnel for its aeronautical agency.

    Investigations by The Nation show that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is grappling to resolve complaints on  training of personnel, application of modern technology, effective communication between the control tower and pilots as well as procurement of modern spares and other issues.

    Investigations further show that the  Nigerian College of Aviation (NCAT), Zaria lacks capacity to train  40 Air Traffic Control  personnel yearly.

    A source hinted that though NAMA recently recruited over 203 air traffic control cadets to address the  shortage of technical personnel  in the agency,  NCAT would require about five years to effectively train the new  staffers to meet the specifications to practice.

    Recently, the  Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)  decried the  lopsided recruitments in the aviation agencies.

    NATCA, which is the parent body of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), said  while there is a dearth of requisite technical manpower and inadequate human capital development in NAMA,  it insisted that the type of manpower being recruited into the agency is completely at variance with the real needs of the agency.

    The President of NATCA, Mr. Abayomi Agoro challenged the management of NAMA to do a holistic evaluation of the staff strength of the agency on a departmental or directorate basis in line with the core mandate of the agency as well as the standard template accepted by the Civil Air Navigation Service Organisation (CANSO) and industry best practice.

    In 2022  Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA)  unveiled plans to recruit additional 100 Air Traffic Controller Officers (ATCOs) to tackle the shortage of controllers in the country.

    The agency  said as at 2022,  no fewer than 40 ATCO cadets were  undergoing training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria in a bid to fill the expected vacuum in the next six years.

    NAMA  management had envisaged a gap in the number of ATCOs and had put in place a plan to recruit at least sufficient personnel between 2022 and 2028.

    The  training of some air traffic control  cadets, NAMA said, was apart from the additional personnel planned for the agency by 2028.

     NAMA management had absorbed additional six ATCOS trained by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) into the agency to address the expected shortage.

    A source in the agency said:  “Management is aware of the current and impending shortage of air traffic controllers due to retirement, death and unrelenting increase in the number of airports around the country.

    “Management is also aware of the pressure that the shortage has been exerting on the system.”

  • NCAA conducts alcohol, drug test on aviation personnel

    NCAA conducts alcohol, drug test on aviation personnel

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has conducted a random alcohol and drug tests on 87 licensed aviation personnel in the industry, including airline pilots, cabin crew and air traffic controllers.

    The spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye disclosed this Monday.

    According to Adurogboye, the exercise was in compliance to a directive from the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman.

    The directive was duly communicated in an Advisory Circular NCAA – AMS – 004 titled “Drugs and Alcohol Policy for Air Operators Certificate holders, Air Navigation Service Providers and other aviation stakeholders” issued to the aviation industry by the Authority.

    A total of 87 personnel from two airlines, Air Peace, Medview and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were tested.

    They were randomly tested as they were about to embark on flight operations and air traffic control duties.

    There include 29 Pilots, 10 Cabin crew.

    Adurogboye said: “However, out of the 87 personnel tested, only one crew member tested positive to psychoactive substance, Tetrahydro – Cannabinol (Marijuana) and was immediately suspended by the Authority from carrying out further flight operations.”

    “Further investigations were later carried out to ascertain the quantity of the substance in the urine sample of the crew member.

    “The Medical Certificate and License of the aircrew has been suspended for 180 days from April 5, 2017.

    “Accordingly, the respondent shall cease to exercise the privileges of the License for the period of his suspension.

    In addition, the crew member shall within seven days of receipt of Letter of Sanction, hand over the License to the Authority’s Director of Licensing (DOL).

    “The aircrew shall undergo a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation for psychoactive substance abuse during the suspension period under the care of a Consultant Psychiatrist.

    At the end, the report of the Consultant Psychiatrist shall be reviewed by the Authority’s Consultant Psychiatrist Adviser. This is to enable NCAA consider possible restoration of the suspended Medical Certificate and License.

    According to Adurogboye, while 19 pilots are from Air Peace, Medview Airlines had nine pilots Pilots  and 32 Cabin crew.

    He said: “Others were from Air Navigation Service Providers, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), 16 licensed Air Traffic Controllers and Trainees. As well as many Licensed ATC Trainees from the Control Tower and TRACON Centre.

    “The random drug and alcohol tests for Licensed Aviation Personnel will be carried out periodically to rid the industry of menace of crew members and ATCs conducting flight operations under the influence of psychoactive substance which could jeopardise flight safety.

    “The exercise was conducted by Medical Assessors from the Aeromedical Department of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will continue to carry out consistent surveillance on the aviation industry to ensure full compliance with extant Regulations. Failure will however, attract adequate sanction.”

     

     

  • 16 air traffic controllers get radar training

    THE Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has trained another batch of 16 Air Traffic Controllers in Area Airways Non-Radar course at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

    The three-month course drew participants from airports nationwide. Titled: ACC 34, the training was designed to equip Air Traffic Controllers with the ability to control traffic caused by radar failure.

    NAMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, who was represented at the graduation in Zaria by the Director of Operations, Mr Uzoma-fyneboy, congratulated the participants on  “studying hard to achieve success in flying colours”.

    In a statement, he said NAMA would “continue to give priority to training and retraining of staff, especially in operations to effectively man the sophisticated air traffic management infrastructure deployed by the agency.”

    Forty ATCs had early this year been rated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) while 12 ATC cadets graduated from the NCAT and went their practical training.

    Another 17 Air Traffic Engineers graduated from the same institution after undergoing a three-month course on handling  communication navigation surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM ) as well as Information  Communication technology equipment.

  • Air traffic controllers threaten showdown over poor navigation equipment

    Members of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association ( NATCA), have threatened to embark on an industrial action next week over the failure by the management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) to implement the agreement reached on the Welfare of its members, as well as the failure of the agency to replace ageing air navigation equipment.

    A statement signed by the National Secretary of NATCA, Olawole Banji, said members  will down tools effective March 15, 2015.

    Banji said NATCA will not shift ground on its  resolve to proceed on strike, adding that it has given the NAMA management two weeks to allow for the conclusion of approved process of the proposed harmonised allowances for its members agreed on since January 18, 2015.

    NATCA stressed that it will  embark on the strike following the inability of NAMA management to implement all the agreements reached, saying the Controllers are agitating for improved working conditions, especially the replacement of obsolete equipment at various locations across the country, as well as their welfare enhancement.

    Meanwhile , the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS ), the body charged with the responsibility of generating information to pilots and the public, has also threatened to confront the management of NAMA for playing politics with professional issues in the organisation .

    AIS President , Babatunde Shittu,  said  the management has relegated its members to the background, and make it look as if only NATCA is the professional body in NAMA that is always agitating for improved welfare  without considering other bodies.

    He warned that they will soon kick start their agitation should government fail to carry  them along.

    It said the report of the Harmonisation  Committee clearly demonstrated that Aeronautical Information Services  is not recognised in Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as a professional body, stating that the   Aeronautical Information Services   is seemingly neglected to the extent that it is hardly carried along in decision making process that directly or indirectly affects it members.

    “We are now appealing to   NAMA Management, to go the extra mile to give AIS smooth landing by meeting the standard set by ICAO.”

    Shittu  called on NAMA to as a matter of urgency train the remaining 122 Aeronautical Information  Officers  in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO requirement to enable them perform their duty optimally.

    He explained that transformation from Aeronautical Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management is imminent , the reason he said has made their training a necessity .

    He lamented the dearth in AIS personnel and the need to address the issue of their professional allowanced and that of the airmen.

  • Air traffic controllers threaten showdown

    Air traffic controllers threaten showdown

    Members of Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association ( NATCA) have threatened to embark on industrial action next week over failure by the management of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) to implement the agreement reached on the welfare of its members as well as replacement of ageing air navigation equipment .

    A statement signed by the National Secretary of NATCA , Olawole Banji said members  will down tools effective March 15,2015.

    Banji said NATCA would not inform the management of its  resolve to proceed on strike adding that it has given the NAMA management two weeks to allow for the conclusion of approved process of the proposed harmonised allowances for its members agreed upon on January 18 2015.

    NATCA had in the last weeks threatened to embark on strike following the inability of NAMA management to implement all the agreements reached.

    The Controllers were agitating for improved working conditions especially replacement of obsolete equipment at various locations across the country and their welfare enhancement.

    Meanwhile, the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS ), the body charged with the responsibility of generating information to pilots and the public recently threatened to confront the management of NAMA for playing politics with professional issues in the organisation .

    Babatunde Shittu, AIS president,  in an interview said  the management had relegated its members and make it look as if only NATCA is the professional body in NAMA always agitating for improved welfare  without considering other bodies.

    According to Shittu: “In AIS Manual Document 8126, Chapter 3, Paragraph:  3.1.2.3 refers: AIS officers should be remunerated at least at the same level as personnel in the AGA, COM and ATS Division.’’

    AIS expressed  with great concern and disappointment that the Executive Council (Exco) and the entire Congress of the Aeronautical Information Services Association of Nigeria (AISAN), the umbrella professional body that represents the interest of AIS Personnel in the country, kick against the current harmonization processes being offered by the committee as the said ongoing negotiation is tailored to particular favoured group in the Agency.”

    He warned that they will soon kick start their agitation should government failed to carry  them along.

    “Harmonization Committee, it clearly demonstrate that AIS is not recognised in Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) as a professional body, and also observed with frustration that AIS is seemingly neglected to the extent that we are hardly carried along in decision making  that directly or indirectly affect us”

    We are now appealing to  NAMA Management, to go the extra mile to give AIS smooth landing by meeting the standard set by ICAO.

    Shittu called in the management of NAMA to as a matter of urgency train the remaining 122 AIS Officers who were yet to be trained as International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO requires, to enable them perform optimally.

    He also demanded the  activation of Basic Cartography and GIS Course in Oyo: AIS/Aero Chart Officers were last trained in the program five (5) years ago and to reactivate the course as this will improve the briefing skill of its personnel.

    The AIS president explained that transformation from Aeronautical Information Service to Aeronautical Information Management was imminent; hence the necessity for this training cannot be over emphasised adding that the sensitive training has been abandoned  for over four years calling for the training of the remaining 65 AISOII Officers in order to be integrated properly in the department.

    He lamented the dearth in AIS personnel and the need to address the issue of their professional allowance and that of Airmen.

  • 21 air traffic controllers graduate at NCAT

    Twenty-one Cadet Air Traffic Controllers have graduated from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT), Zaria in Kaduna State.

    Speaking at the graduation, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, urged the students  to  justify the investments in their training by  being committed and dedicated to duty, in the interest of safety of the airspace.

    Abdulsalam noted that as part of the transformation of the sector, resulting in the remodelling of airports and the deployment of sophisticated communication, navigation, surveillance  and air traffic management infrastructure among others, across the country, NAMA is investing on the training and retraining of personnel, particularly the critical manpower resources to ensure the safe, effective, economic and efficient use of these equipment and to keep pace with the dynamics of new technology.

    NAMA boss said: ”The increasing demand for air traffic services over the years, occasioned by the rapid growth in population and the establishment of state and privately owned airports nationwide vis a vis the high turnover of critical manpower arising from retirements and deaths prompted the agency to resort to contracting retired Air Traffic Controllers and Air Traffic Engineers as a short-term remedy.”

    He assured that with efforts at training young ATC cadets, the challenge would soon be tackled.

    He praised the graduates for their perseverance and hard work. He also gave kudos to the management of NCAT for the tremendous support and co-operation accorded the students during their stay.

    The Rector of NCAT, Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, pointed out that the high academic standard and rigorous training offered by the institution makes it stand out as a centre of excellence and one of the best in the world.

    He urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of NCAT by impacting positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation industry.

    In its determination to bridge the manpower gap in ATC services, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in 2012 recruited 50 ATC Cadets with batch AC 57 and 58 resuming at NCAT in February, last  year while AC59 resumed in July, same year.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of NAMA,  Abdulsalam, accompanied by a top management delegation, including the Director of Human Resources, Dr Uwem Akangson and the Acting Director of Operations, Mr Edward Ogedegbe, toured facilities at the institution.

    Places visited include the Area Airways Department, General ATS Department (which boasts of a 3D 360 Visual Tower Simulator for aerodrome control training), Flight Line and Hanger as well as the Flying School.