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Tag: Airports

  • Art Experience: where air travellers meet

    Art Experience: where air travellers meet

    Airports across the world serve as both the welcome and farewell to the city, and in many cases it provides local, regional or cultural memories. Airport art and sculptural pieces can be valuable means of customer engagement and marketing, and an excellent stimulus to comfort, distract, and entertain. To many customers who use social media while travelling, airport artworks can be popular features to post to friends and loved ones.

    Beyond that, art collectors, connoisseurs and enthusiasts can choose from the collections while on transit or perhaps link up with the artist or curator to pick up a choice art piece later. Airports such as Houston airport, Doha Hamad, Mumbai and Singapore Changi are among the world’s airports with best artworks, according to Skyrax. 

    The recent launch of an art gallery tagged The Art Experience to mark the 16th anniversary of Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), organised by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the terminal is a fresh window to promote Nigerian art and artists.  The art gallery is now a place where travellers meet arts, culture and artifacts.

    Located closed to one of the exits on the ground floor of the terminal, the gallery is to celebrate Nigeria, encourage artists and collectors while enhancing the passengers experience at the terminal. No passenger walks past it and not get arrested by the quality of paintings on the white walls. Aided by the rays of the sun through the glass wall, illumination in the gallery is eye friendly, thus enhancing appreciation of the works. 

    According to Chairman of BASL, Wale Babalakin the gallery, designed to enhance the standard of operation and passenger experience, features Nigerian arts and culture, promoting innovation and providing a platform for young artists to interact with art enthusiasts.

    In a chat with The Nation, the Head Marketing Department, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), Mrs Gbubemi Aibangbee said that despite the busy nature of travellers, the airport should be engaging and not just a transit point. She believed that there are moments when travellers experience pause while at the terminal, adding that at such periods, the artworks will arrest their attention.

    Read Also: Niger bans French aircraft from airspace

    “Art and the right art will surely arrest travellers and that is what we are trying to create. It should serve as a form of relaxation while you appreciate talent. So, we want to break that trajectory of being in a hurry to transit.

    Everyone appreciates art. It’s described as elitist. However, if you find art that speaks to you, you would want to procure it or, at the least, look at it. Appreciation is on another level, affordability is a different case. Most people don’t know they like art until they come here and they are helped because they’ve not paused. The right art will direct you,” Aibangbee said.

    She disclosed that the artists who produced the colourful collection of paintings were selected based on their creativity, quality of work, dedication, ability to understand what they want to convey, attention to details and originality. She stated that the collection currently on display is deliberately selected to reflect the diverse nature of Nigerian culture.

    “We are setting up this gallery space alongside the Premium Lounge, where we have large pieces of artworks for collectors. Together, we have over 60 pieces. By the time we bring back the remaining batch of 40 artworks that will be over 100 pieces,” she said of the size of collection.

    Aibangbee disclosed that the gallery gets its works through one artist who also coordinates other works from other artists. “For we are not dealing with individual artists but there is one resource person who liaises and coordinates the others. We are thinking of adding sculptures and other media so it is not just painting,” she added, noting that most of the paintings in the gallery are produced by J.J Dokubor (Tikkabay).

    Interestingly, it is reported that many passengers who took brief look at the works in the gallery, admitted that the works are affordable. 

    “Surprisingly, people have passed through here and said the art is cheap, let’s buy it. We have works as low as 50,000 or 40,000 naira. There is no artwork here that costs 1.5 million naira. The paintings here are in hundreds of thousands of naira. So, to that extent, they are affordable and pocket friendly.

  • Airport boss decries attack on workers

    The Regional General Manager, South West Airports, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba, has decried the attacks on airport officials, over indiscriminate parking of vehicles in unauthorised areas, by uniform men and escort personnel.

    Shin-Aba, who addressed reporters in her office at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, expressed displeasure over the flagrant abuse of power by uniform men and escort vehicle personnel.

    She said the uncooperative attitude of the public, especially VIPs, remained the greatest challenge the management was facing.

    Read Also: Pilots decry state of airports’ runways, other facilities

    According to her, the security committee earlier set up was disbanded because it did not achieve its purpose, as most of the members were not ready to discipline other officials.

    Shin-Aba said the Aviation Security Personnel (AVSEC) were subjected to embarrassment by gun carrying uniform men.

    On ensuring a tout free environment, the airport manager said a task force was combing the airport environment on a daily basis to get rid of hawkers and bike operators popularly called okada riders.

    She said motorcycles had been confiscated by the task force, while effort was being made with the Lagos State Government to move any mentally unstable person apprehended to them for rehabilitation.

  • Gombe, Kebbi airports shut over debts

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has closed down Gombe and Kebbi airports as a result of over N800 million debts.

    The shutdown took effect yesterday.

    FAAN, in a Notice To Air Men (NOTAM), sent to the airports yesterday, announced the withdrawal of men of the safety, fire rescue and aviation security personnel attached to the two airports.

    Read also: FAAN to shut airports over debts

    FAAN, two weeks ago, warned that its services would be withdrawn should the two state governments failed to clear their debts.

    It was gathered that FAAN gave the state governments enough time to settle their debts, but they remained adamant

    It was gathered that the attention will be shifted to other airports, which are owing.

    FAAN, it was learnt, wanted to carry out the drive in other airports but were stopped by the Presidency.

    “But the agency has vowed to forge ahead with its plans to close state airports owing the organisation,” a source said yesterday.

  • President to unveil single window at seaports, airports, border stations

    •The Nation rallies Maritime patrons

    President Muhammadu Buhari will soon unveil the much-awaited Single Window (SW) Platform at seaports, airports and border stations to facilitate trade and achieve 24-hour cargo clearance, it was learnt yesterday.

    This is coming against the backdrop of a directive by the President to have a single window platform that will integrate all government agencies at all the entry points into the country to promote trade and boost security.

    Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by Maritime Services Director Sani Umar Galandachi, broke the news yesterday in Abuja, at the second edition of the stakeholders conference organised by The Nation in collaboration with Eipsilon Limited.

    The theme of the event is: “Intermodal freight transport: Key to unfolding the potential of Nigerian seaports for speedy economic recovery and growth.

    A technical committee headed by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and officials of ministries, departments and agencies that operate at the ports,  Amaechi said, has been constituted to drive the single window process and strengthen the maritime industry by boosting efficiency and reducing cost and time of doing business at ports.

    The minister added that the Buhari administration was determined to harness the potential of the transport sector so that it can have an overwhelming positive impact on the GDP,  influence the growth of the nation’s economy through market expansion, opportunities for foreign trade, competition, foreign exchange earnings, and serving strategic national interests like wealth creation and employment generation.

    President Buhari, Amaechi said, is also conscious of facilitating intermodal transport system by prioritising the rehabilitation,  upgrading, modernization and construction of the nation’s railway lines and roads, which are expected to be connected with the ports to promote inter-modalism.

    The Federal Ministry of Transportation, Amaechi said, is desirous of evolving a world class transportation system by positioning itself as a hub in West and Central Africa through the establishment of a safe, efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal transport system in line with global best practices.

    The government, is also creating an enabling environment for Public Private Partnership (PPP) by  embarking on major reforms, initiatives and laudable programmes.

    “Therefore, it is revealing that the Day’s theme is apt and would not have come at a better time than now, considering the efforts of the Federal Govenment to diversify and make other sectors function effectively and contribute to the national economy.

    “It may interest you to note that the Federal Government’s plan to implement a National Single Window Platform to harmonise trade procedures to drive revenue generation and strengthen national security at land borders, sea and air ports has reached advanced stage.

    “A technical committee under the chairmanship of the Vice President with membership from relevant ministries, departments and agencies that operate at the ports was constituted to drive the process. The technical committee co-chaired by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recommended the establishment of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the National Trade Platform (NTP) with three units, namely the single window (imports ans exports), scanning services and port community system,” Amaechi said.

    The interest of all stakeholders, the Minister said, is being harmonised by the government for realistic implementation .

    To ensurea cordial and harmonious relationship and reduce inter-maritime agency conflicts, the ministry has initiated routine meetings with its agencies to address concerns and ensure collaboration to develop the industry.

    According to the minister, to institutionalise all legal and regulatory reforms, the Federal Government, Amaechi said, seeking amendment or alteration of obsolete bills to achieve best practices.

    Anarchist went on: “The Federal Government has developed a 25 Years Railway Strategic Vision, which involves system transition, system modernisation and construction of new lines and extensions through public private partnership ( PPP) and system stabilisation.

    “This has resulted in the completion of Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, the ongoing construction of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line is expected to be completed by December this year and Itakpe -Ajaokuta -Warri rail line which is also expected to commence operation before the end of the year,” he said.

    Advertisement, the Minister said, has been placed for the construction of Eastern rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and other critical lines.

    The concession of Onitsha River Port, Amaechi said, is at advanced stage while that of Lokoja, Baro, Oguta River ports will boost commercial activities in communities along the Inland waterways when completed.

    Nigerian Ports Authority ( NPA) Managing Director Ms Hadiza Bala Usman  said the capacity of the port has increased from 3.7million  metric tons in the 70s to 77million metric tons in 2015, in spite of the recession. The figure, she said, is about 108 per cent increase over the total port design capacity.

    The Managing Director, who was represented by Executive Director Muhammmad Bello-Koko,  added that the container  throughput in the seaports has grown by over 100 per cent, gross tonnage has grown by over 200 per cent and export has also grown by over 500 per cent.

    Usman said, based on close linkage between sea port activities and economic development, the Buhari administration, through the NPA,  cannot afford to treat it with levity.

    The Federal Government, Usman said, is therefore reforming operations at the seaports for optimal performance,  and making the transport sector responsive and dynamic enough to boost speedy economic recovery and growth.

    Unnecessary delays, sharp practices and scam, Usman said, are being reduced drastically at the ports for goods to move freely, thereby making just in time (JIT) supply chain management to be effective.

    The NPA boss identified the following as some of the benefits of intermodal freight transport:

    * possibility of seamless door-to-door transport, which is the greatest advantage to shippers;

    *consolidation, particularly in the longer distance truck line move, as this leads to economies of scale;

    * possibility of transporting goods more economically in containers that can be moved on land by rail or truck and ob water by ship or barge. Containers save handling costs when freight must be transferred from one mode to another (e.g from ships to trucks(; also a truck-rail container movement can yield savings compared with truck alone if the cost of the transfer is offset by rail’s lower cost per ton mile. The movement of bulk commodities is also included in international modal freight transport; and

    *the enhancement of efficiency and integration within the supply chain could be transformed into improvement in cost, quality of service and delivery times.

    Customs Comptroller General Col. Hameed Ali (Retd.) identified sharp practices by importers and clearing agents as factors militating against quick cargo clearance and assured stakeholders that the Service would ensure that scanners are provided at sea ports, air ports and border stations between now and early next year to boost the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government.

    Col. Ali assured stakeholders that the Buhari administration has  the political will to introduce a single window platform to reduce costs, increase compliance of importers and exporters and boost security.

    He said: “I  congratulate the Organizers for achieving this feat of bringing all stakeholders together to discuss an issue of great national importance. I have always believed that our port system  may be plagued with a myriad of problems, we stand stronger together, with a collective will to confront the knotty issues and proffer solutions.

    “Over the years, our port system have been adjudged poor performers by major Rating Agencies in terms of its competitiveness, charges paid for its   service,  and   efficiency.

    “In   terms   of   its   strategic   importance   to   the realisation   of   the   Economic   Growth   and   Recovery   Plan   (EGRP),   the Federal   Government   of   Nigeria   last   year,   issued   the   Ease   of   Doing Business Executive  Order  E01, with  far  reaching  measures  to improve business environment for Port operations. The Order imposes collective obligations   on   all   stakeholders   to   work   together   to   reduce   observed bottlenecks in our operations, achieve faster processing of cargo clearance, streamlining of procedures and fighting corrupt practices in our ports.

    “One year on, this conference offers us the opportunity to take stock of our performance and reflect on the progress made in our attempt to bring efficiency to the Ports. You may also recall that in the course of last one year, criminal elements attempted to exploit the weakness in the port systems to compromise our national security through the importation of arms and ammunition through Apapa and Tin-can Island Ports.

    “We therefore need to work together to present a united front against those characters waiting in the wings to compromise our system. We must leverage   on   opportunities   presented   by   new   technologies   to   fast   track

    compliant traders and punish the offenders. We have to strengthen our capacity   to   investigate   offenses   against   our   laws   and   impose   heavy sanctions that has deterrence factors on deviants.

    “We must all resolve that the selfish interests of few economic saboteurs should not be allowed to subjugate our collective will to bring sanity to our port system.

    “One way to  improve our performance is actually to carry out  an assessment of our operation, identify areas where we have made progress,and those where we still have some bottlenecks and delays. Following the methodology   of   the   World   Customs   Organisation   (WCO),   the   Nigeria Customs   Service   last   month,   in   collaboration   with   our   Stakeholders launched a Time Release Study project as a tool for trade facilitation.

    “The study is expected to scientifically measure the time taken for clearance of goods between the time of arrival and exit from the port. Using Apapa port as a pilot, the study will undertake an assessment of the clearance business process, collect survey data, analyze and publish the results. It is hoped that   the   study   will   chart   a   roadmap   for   collective   implementation   of measures to  achieve  faster clearance. I am happy to announce that the Working Group, comprising representatives of all stakeholders here was inaugurated yesterday, and is currently undergoing a training workshop in Lagos, under the guidance of the WCO,”the CGC said.

    Stakeholders at the conference said the single window is a laudable initiative, which a country like Nigeria ought to embrace to transform the ports.

    Dr Obajuluwa Oluwasanmi said the single window platform would enhance trade competitiveness through improvement in import, export, transit procedures and information sharing system among the government agencies.

    The facility, he said, would ensure that there is a paperless Customs declaration, compliance and online approval on all exports and imports coming to the country.

    The current 100 per cent physical examination of goods, according to him, would be reduced and all government agencies at ports integrated.

    “The single window facility will also need to be supported by legislation from the National Assembly

    “The National Single Window is the ultimate in port operation. But it must be multi-agencies integrated for it to be successful. The port is a transit point and our ports must be seen and used as such. That is why we have dry ports across the country to decongest the port and NPA as the landlord must have a say.

    “The benefits are immense, because on a micro level, it will boost the competitive advantage of our ports and its traders on the international markets while increasing government’s revenue, boost foreign direct investment, introduce simpler, faster clearance, and release processes,” he said

    The Government’s attention on the single window, he said, should be focused on the following:

    *reducing time and cost of doing business at ports;

    *simplification and automation of ports operations; and

    *reduction of the human interface and increased transparency among others.

    The Managing Director and Editor -in-Chief  of The Nation Mr Victor Ifijeh,who was represented by the Chairman, Editorial Board Mr Sam Omatseye thanked the Minister, the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Chief Executives of NPA, NIMASA, the Nigerian Shippers Council, NIWA and other agencies for their support  and collaborate with the paper to organise the event.

    “We were all in Lagos last year to witness the first edition of this conference. Today, we are all here for the second edition as part of our efforts to move the transport sector forward and help in speedy economic recovery and growth of our country.

    “We all know the problems facing us as a nation and our economy.

    They have also been the subject of various talks. Nevertheless, until the problems are adequately addressed, the need for more engagements like we are having now will continue.

    For the Federal Government’s plans to introduce single window platform and provide scanners for Customs examination, the Editor-in-Chief said there was need for all agencies at ports to key into the trade facilitation programme of the Federal to  boost efficiency, reduce time and cost and make the ports competitive and attractive for business.

     

  •  Govt activates contingency plans at airports to curb Ebola

    To prevent an outbreak of Ebola and other communicable diseases in the country, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has activated emergency contingency plans at the Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Kano and Port Harcourt international airports.

    The measure is part of the template designed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to checkmate the spread of Ebola, which is ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    In line with the plans, thermal scanners at the arrival and departure wings of the airports are manned by Port Health officials, who check the temperature of inbound and outbound passengers.

    FAAN Regional Manager at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Shinaba, said the plans would ensure that any passenger with traces of any communicable disease was isolated and attended to.

    She said passengers were being screened with the prescribed scanners to reassure airport users of their safety.

    Mrs Shinaba said a few weeks ago, a mock exercise was carried out to prepare some workers on the procedure to adopt in the event of an outbreak of communicable disease.

    FAAN, she said, would continue to stick to the public health emergency procedure to ensure that international standards are maintained.

    She said sanitisers and soaps were being provided at toilets to ensure that passengers maintained high hygiene level.

    Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu has since begun thermal and body screening of passengers at the airport.

    Its Manager, Mr.Mgbemena Orjiako, said  the airport had secured WHO’s cooperation in  sensitising airport workers.

    According to Mgbemena, the talk,which is only centred on Ebola, also extends to other communicable diseases that are possibly contracted by air or by means of air travel.

    “You know air travel is the quickest means of moving around from continent to continent. So, if there is a contagious disease of such magnitude, it can easily move from country to country. So, WHO has been here and has equally assisted us in giving talks on how to tackle it and what to watch out for and what to do to prevent the spread,” Mgbemena said.

    He said  the Port Health Authority (PHA), in collaboration with other agencies at the airport, held  emergency meetings where they carefully designed measures   to forestall Ebola at the airport.

    He said Enugu airport is  very serious on curtailing the Ebola outbreak if any, because  an international airline  flies  into the airport three times a week.

    Mgbemena said the airport had also created an area where it could keep any passenger detected to have abnormal temperature.

    “There is an  area in the arrival hall where we keep them and also check their temperature discreetly while they are coming in without their knowing. We also have sanitisers in different corners at the airport where people can wash  themselves,” he said.

    According to the manager, there is joint monitoring of the movement of passengers into the airport every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

    He said: “We pay greater attention to those moving into the airport because most passengers may be coming from Addis Ababa, but may be transiting from other areas of the world. So, we want to be very cautious and we don’t want anything to go wrong.”

  • Etihad trials virtual reality tech for airports

    Etihad Airways has started trialing SkyLights Aero Virtual Reality (VR) entertainment technology at its flagship First Class Lounge and Spa and Business Class Premium Lounge, at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal 3. The aim of the month-long trial is to gather customer feedback to determine the airline’s future lounge entertainment offering at Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art Midfield Terminal.

    SkyLights is a leading provider of entertainment solutions, working closely with leading airline industry partners to leverage the latest cinematic VR technology to transform their inflight and ground experience. The company has offices in San Francisco, Paris and Toulouse.

    Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, said: “As with the Etihad inflight experience, we are constantly investigating ways to enhance our service and hospitality offering on the ground through innovative technology and customisation.

    By conducting trials such as this, we already understand that modern travellers expect more information and seek increasingly connected and immersive experiences which engage and entertain them on every level. Gone are the days when a premium lounge experience just meant comfortable design, luxurious amenities and fine dining.

    “The development of this type of technology could also allow us to provide more personalisation and end-to-end entertainment solutions across all customer demographics, reinforcing our strategy of providing greater choice at every stage of the customer journey.”

    The SkyLights ALLOSKY VR headsets deliver an immersive, HD resolution, cinematic experience in 2D and 3D, featuring intuitive technology for ease of use and noise cancelling headphones. Each set has a battery life of over six hours which allows for uninterrupted enjoyment from a catalogue of recent blockbuster movies, selected 360° short films, TV series, documentaries and children’s programming.

    Throughout the trial, Etihad staff will assist interested guests at dedicated areas within both lounges. Each session will end with a short manual questionnaire.

  • Aviation security personnel set to bear arms at airports

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s (FAAN)  Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel will soon be licensed to carry arms at airports to complement other security agencies in case of  threat, Minister of State for Aviation  Hadi Sirika has said.

    Sirika, who spoke in Katsina at the 2018 AVSEC retreat, said discussion was at its final stage for the plan.

    He said the move would strengthen the integrity of the airports in view of the growing threats to aviation industry.

    “The Federal Government approved for AVSEC personnel  to bear arms, which is a notable achievement in this administration’s effort at improving the general safety of its citizenry and passengers passing through our airports,” Sirika said.

    The minister, who was represented by the Rector of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria , Captain Mohammed Abdulsalami, said arming AVSEC would ensure proper policing of the sector.

    He added that the plan was part of efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to give the country dividends of democracy.

    He said rebranding of AVSEC was important in building  identity and creating a recognisable corporate image  for officers with the aim of making them much more professional and customer-friendly to meet up with the initiative of the Ease of Doing Business.

    Sirika said most countries have shown keen interest in the country’s growing and expanding aviation industry, stressing that aviation security was seen as a pivotal tool to sustaining safety in all the airports.

    The minister noted that the United Nations (UN) decision to establish two aviation security training colleges was another notable achievement of the present administration.

    Sirika said the certification of FAAN training centre by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) cannot be overemphasised since it would strengthen the capacity and technical knowhow of aviation security personnel.

    Managing Director of FAAN Saleh  Dunoma  said the authority was investing in aviation to create enabling environment that would encourage efficiency in tackling emerging security threats to civil aviation.

  • Executive Order boosts service delivery at airports

    The implementation of  the Executive Order on  the Ease of Doing Business has boosted service delivery at airports. The Order, which okays passengers screening through a single window by security personnel, has saved turnaround time for airlines and passengers, reports KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR.

    Passenger facilitation at airports has assumed new dimensions, thanks to the implementation of the Executive Order on  the  Ease of Doing Business signed last May 18 by Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo.

    In the last 10 months, passenger screening, check-in procedures and other processes have taken a new shape – no more lost hours for travellers.

    The Order has not only improved the architecture of security, but also prescribed the terms of engagement of uniformed personnel attached to critical units.

    It requires that staff members on duty should be properly identified by their uniforms and identity cards, while off-duty personnel are expected to stay away from the airport except with  the approval of the agency head.

    According to Osinbajo, aviation security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should address touting at airports.

    ”All non-official staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports. No official of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) or any other agency is to meet any non-designated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport,” The Vice President warned.

    He directed that the approved list of dignitaries to be received by protocol officers should be made available to AVSEC and other relevant agencies ahead of their arrival.

    ”Any  official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other airport users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and will face  disciplinary as well as criminal proceedings in line with extant laws and regulations,’’ the Order said.

    Ten months on, passenger processing at airports and other screening procedures have been transformed.

    Investigations reveal that  it  takes less time for passengers and airlines to process check in procedures at the airports for the reworking of security architecture at the departure and arrival wings of the terminal building.

    Besides saving airlines and passengers time, there is a significant reduction in the procedure and processing of flights due to the elimination of multiple tables where passengers displayed either their luggage or travel documents.

    The controversial “Customs Table“ used by airlines have been removed at the Lagos International Airport to improve passengers’ profiling and check-in processes in line with globally accepted operational standards. The development, described as a win-win situation for passengers, airlines and security agencies, is a departure from the past.

    Before the implementation of the Executive Order, a long table was used by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Quarantine Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other agencies’ officials  to  allegedly extort money from passengers.

    This table before the implementation of Executive Order was responsible for the unnecessary delays in passengers’check-in, which sometimes ran into several hours.

    In an interview, FAAN Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma  said there was a paradigm shift at the airports since the order was signed.

    Dunoma confirmed that check in procedures and passenger processing had improved

    He said: “Desks that have been there for manual search are no longer there. The checks are being done at appropriate locations and this has created a tidy departure hall.

    “This has improved the ambience of the departure hall.’’

    An aviation security expert,  Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) commended the government for the new regulations, noting, however, that there was still room for improvement.

    Ojikutu, who is the and Managing Director of Centurion Securities Limited, said the removal of check-in tables was in line with the agitation by industry experts, who have, for years, called on the government to redesign the security procedure for passengers check-in.

    Also, Dana Air Group Managing Director, Mr. Jacky Hathirami, praised aviation agencies for the commitment they had so far exhibited in implementing the directive.

    He said: “Apart from the fact that aviation industry is critical to the economy, I believe the executive order has removed unnecessary bureaucracies at the airports, provide solutions to a lot of anomalies in the system.’’

    On the impact of the Ease of Doing Business at airports, Akwaaba African Travel Market organiser, Mr Ikechi Uko, commended FAAN for removing the long tables.

    Uko admitted  that passenger facilitation at airports was not only faster, but now devoid of the hassles of multiple screening and checks.

    He said: “It is easier now to go through the airport, though visa on arrival is still not easy as the processes of getting approval for visa on arrival is still difficult.”

    He said there was room for improvement in some areas at the airport like the toilets which he observed are getting cleaner.

    FAAN’s Director of Operations, Captain Rabiu Yadudu told The Nation that the Ease of Doing Business has brought about a lot of efficiency in airport operations and synergy among security agencies.

    He added that the authority is now a subscriber to the Airport Service Quality Programme (ASP) put together by the global regulator, Airport Council International (ACI).

    The programme, he said, uses data gathering to help the agency measure its passengers’ reactions to  improve service delivery.

    He said the Executive Order has broadened the horizon for the airport authority in entrenching safety and seamless facilitation.

    Yadudu said:  “It  provided a template for us  to know how to react to customers and stakeholders and give  us better understanding to serve  better.”

    The new arrangement, he said, had  provided  passengers  satisfaction at airports.

    “This programme is all about gathering data from the incoming and outgoing passengers on all aspects of our operations to help us improve our services through analysis of this data. The ASP is all about efficiency and how we response to passengers stimuli,” he added.

  • NCAA reviews weather minima for 18 airports

    NCAA reviews weather minima for 18 airports

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in conjunction with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has carried out a review of Aerodrome Operating Weather Minima for 18 airports in Nigeria.

    The NCAA which  made this on Wednesday in a statement issued by its General Manager, Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye, listed the 18 aerodromes where the operating minima and takeoff minima have been reviewed are, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt,Calabar,Dutse, Eket and Enugu.

    Others are Gombe, Ilorin, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola and Zaria.

    Adurogboye said the review was in compliance with the provision of Part 8 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs Part 8) as well as International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Doc.9365.

    He said in the review, the Regulatory Authority took cognisance of improvements in visual and navigational aids within the affected airports, stating that the reviewed Aerodrome Operating Minima will enhance the operating capacity of the aerodromes.

    Adurogboye said the review became necessary because it will avail  operators  improved minima for low visibility operations.

    According to the review, the landing minima specified for all the 18 (Eighteen) airports was determined based on applicable criteria, as defined in the ICAO PANS-OPS Doc. 8168, Doc.9365.

    He said: “These include all relevant amendments, as well as available navigational facilities (ILS,VOR/DME, etc) or PBN Navigational Specification (RNAV/GNSS).

    “On the other hand, the reviewed operating minima provided for a performance based Takeoff minima for the affectedaerodromes in Nigeria is determined by available visual aids for takeoff. These are Runway Centre Lights, Touchdown Zone lights, Runway Edge Lights, Threshold Lights, Runway End Lights and Runway Surface Markings.”

    He said the  last time weather minima were actually reviewed was in 1983.  Said he : “ However, a semblance of revision undertaken in 1993 only stated that the takeoff minima shall 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.

    “However, this present review allows for takeoffas 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, Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Ilorin, Gombe, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola, Dutse, Calabar and Enugu.

    “Therefore, the implementation of these 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. This is executed by Flight Crew, Air Traffic Controllers (ATC), Aerodrome Operators and the Meteorological Agency.”

    To ensure the seamless operation of these revised minima, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) shall continue to ensure prompt and regular provision of required meteorological information.

    The statement reads: “These will include flight visibility and Runway Visual Range (RVR) values to all ATC units in the airports. Thus NiMET and NAMA shall ensure constant updating of the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) with the available RVR values as appropriate.

    “All airlines, Aerodrome Operators and Air Navigation Service Providers are required to ensure adequate training of their personnel and flight crew that would be involved in low visibility operations.

    “The Air Navigation service provider is expected to ensure regular flight calibration of all available navigational aids. This is to ensure safe and efficient flight operations, especially during low visibility operations.

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will continue to provide a proactive regulatory oversight that will ensure safety and security of all flight operations.

    “With this review, the Regulatory Authority has provided a pragmatic solution to the incessant flight delays and cancellations occasioned by inclement weather. It is expected that passengers can now heave a sigh of relief as their travel plans will now be in real time.”

  • Airlines, airports to invest $33b in ICT

    Global airlines and airports are exppected to spend nearly $33 billion on information technology in the next four months, statistics from Geneva-based Air Travel Solutions provider ( SITA) has said.

    The amount, according to SITA, a mutlinational information technology company which provides telecommuncation services to the industry, shows that airlines are focusing their technology investments on similar priorities, in particular cyber security.

    Ilya Gutlin, president, Air Travel Solutions, SITA, said: “The air transport industry is going through digital transformation and focusing its attention on protecting the business and passengers; making it more efficient and improving the passenger experience.

    “Cyber-attacks are a very real threat in the highly interwoven air transport industry so building solid defenses is essential. Cloud services provide important efficiencies which play a key role in keeping costs down.”

    He said investments in self-service improves passenger satisfaction as they welcome the independence and efficiencies it delivers.”

    Gutlin  said: “When it comes to information technology  investment, airports and airlines are aligned to provide better, more secure service to customers.

    “The interdependencies built into air transport systems mean investments and improvements in all these areas, by airlines and airports alike, will continue to contribute to a strong global industry.”

    Antoine Rostworowski, director, Airport Customer Experience and Technology, at Airports Council International (ACI), said SITA’s research, which was co-sponsored by ACI, reveals valuable insights for the industry .

    He said there is an alignment of investment priorities among airports and airlines, which reflects the collaboration between ACI and  International Air Transport Association (IATA) on best practices.

    ACI and IATA have joint initiatives such as Automated border control, end-to-end baggage tracking (facilitation), Data Exchange, Common-Use (Airport IT) and Smart Security.

    Industry partners such as SITA and others are also involved in these initiatives to make airports more efficient and to improve passenger experience.

    Rostworowski said airlines  are focusing on providing mobile services. ”Today, the vast majority of airlines provide check-in  boarding  and flight status notifications via mobile  platforms and by 2020 more than 97 per cent  plan to do so, he said.

    According to him, a key area of growth will be providing real-time flight updates over social media which will jump from 31 per cent of airlines doing so to 92 per cent in the next three years.

    “At airports, self-service processes at check-in, bag drop and boarding are increasingly popular with passengers and 89 per cent  of airports are investing in these processes.