The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to air passengers at all the airports in the country to be calm and show understanding with airlines when flights are cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
NCAA spokesman, Mr. Fan Nduboke, in a statement in Lagos said the start of the rainy season is usually accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and turbulence and that the most severe of them is the wind shear.
“When wind shear occurs along the flight path, it causes abrupt and substantial displacement of the aircraft from its intended path which becomes extremely hazardous for aircraft taking off and landing.
“Other hazards associated with rainfall include microburst, hail, lightning, low ceiling and visibility, icing, altimeter error and engine water ingestion.
“The rains being experienced now may result in occasional flight cancellations and delays. Airline pilots are mandatorily required to obtain en route or destination weather information before the operation of a flight. They are also required to abort a flight if the weather condition is unsafe for operation,” said Ndubuoke.
On its part, the agency’s directorate of consumer protection enjoined airline officials to ensure sustained communication to the affected passengers if and when they anticipate that flights would either be cancelled or delayed
“The passengers are accordingly required to remain calm, avoid violence and confrontation with the airline officials as this measure is meant to ensure their safety. “NCAA’s primary responsibility is to ensure safe and secure air transportation in the country.
“It is pertinent to draw the attention of both the operators and passengers to the rights, responsibilities and limitations of all the parties as spelt out in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2012 (NCARs) Part 19.5.3 which states: ‘An operating airline shall not be obliged to pay compensation for cancellation if it can prove that the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures have been taken.
“Therefore, any air operator who delays or cancels flight due to adverse weather conditions is merely upholding the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in the industry worldwide and as spelt out in our regulations.
“We wish to reiterate that the passengers should be fully aware that the airline is ensuring their safety and observing the rules of engagement enshrined in their tickets,” said the directorate.