By Ime Akpan
Lagos
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on all airline passengers to exercise restraint due the spate of flight delays and cancellations occasioned by unfavourable weather en route most of the nation’s airports.
The director general of the agency, Capt. Muhtar Usman said in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday that most parts of the country witnessed adverse weather conditions last week thus preventing most scheduled and non-scheduled flights from providing services.
“Therefore, the prevailing weather condition is likely to herald a long and severe dust haze in the months ahead.
“During this period, air- to – ground visibility may be considerably reduced due to the dust haze.
“In addition, aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed minima due to the severe conditions.
“Dust haze can blot runways, the markings and airfield lightings over wide areas. These make visual navigation extremely difficult or impossible.
“Under these kinds of adverse conditions air travel is bound to suffer delays and cancellations.
“Passengers are therefore advised to exercise restraint when their travels suffer these fates.
“Pilots are merely observing what is contained in the departure, en route and destination weather which might sometimes necessitate outright cancellation.
“When these happen, the Airline and the Pilots are strictly adhering to the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs),” he said.
However, the director general called on all the operating airlines to share as much information as possible with passengers on the progress of their respective flights in line with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015 Part 19.
“NCAA therefore wishes to advise all passengers to cooperate with the airlines as safety of lives and security cannot be compromised,” he stressed.
Earlier, NCAA had issued Weather Alert Circular to all pilots and airline operators on the impending adverse weather.
The circular forewarned all operators on the inherent danger associated with harmattan dust haze as regard flight operations at this time of the year.
