Nigeria switches to automated flight plans – NAMA

Ikeja  - Mr Nnamdi Udoh, the Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), says Nigeria will change from the analogue method of preparing flight plans to automated system on Thursday.

He said this at a stakeholders’ forum on the implementation of the new International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) flight plans in Nigeria.

He said: “From Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, Nigeria will join the rest of the global aviation community in this development, as it has become mandatory for all contracting states of ICAO to do so.’’

Udoh said that the new flight plan would afford air navigation service providers the opportunity to make maximum use of aircraft capabilities.

He listed other benefits of the new flight plan to include ability of the aircraft to conduct flights more closely to their preferred trajectories and facilitate the utilisation of advanced technologies, thereby increasing efficiency.

“It will also enhance optimised demand and capacity balancing through efficient exchange of information,’’ Udoh said.

The NAMA boss also said that the switch-over would enhance the airlines’ use of modern capabilities on board the aircraft, as well as enhance search and rescue operations when the need arose.

The forum was attended by airline operators, pilots, air traffic controllers, regulators and service providers. (NAN)