Aviation Safety: NCAA cautions pilots against inclement weather amid rainy season

*The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority says the weather advisory circular to pilots is necessary to bring forth the evolving weather information associated with the rainy season and effects on the safety, efficiency of flight operations in the country

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

As the country is currently in the thick of the rainy season in this year, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned all pilots in the country against severe thunderstorms and other hazardous weather conditions which can hamper flight operations for the safety of all.

ConsumerConnect reports the aviation regulatory agency stated the warning is a follow-up to the advisory circular addressed to all pilots and airline operators, which Captain Musa Nuhu, Director-General of NCAA, signed and released Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

Aircraft at the airport

It was learnt the circular was coming on the heels of the advent of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) earlier released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for this year.

NIMET has predicted early/late March as the commencement of the rainy season in the Southern states while late April/June 2021 is the commencement of the rainy season in the Central and Northern parts of Nigeria.

Accordingly, the weather advisory circular is necessary to bring forth the evolving weather information associated with the commencement of the rainy season and the effects on the safety and efficiency of flight operations; and to elicit the cooperation of the following stakeholders to ensure safe air transportation at all times.

The circular said: “Therefore, pilots, operators, and air traffic controllers pilots are directed to observe series of responsibilities enumerated below forthwith: Air Traffic Controllers may temporarily close the airspace when any of the conditions in (1) are observed or forecast by NIMET;

“Flight Crews/Operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to ensure adherence to published aerodrome weather minima; Pilots to exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by NIMET; and

“Pilots/flight crew members to obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET Aerodrome Meteorological Offices prior to flight operations.”

The NCAA, therefore, enjoins all air travellers to exercise patience and understanding during this period of downpour and observe strict compliance with safety regulations.