Nigeria, Ghana Advocate Single Sky

Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), are clamouring that both countries should have a single sky for effective and safe Air Traffic Services delivery in the sub ?region.

This means that the airspace of both should become one entity and be treated as such by pilots who fly airspaces of both countries and those that operate from airports in the two nations.

Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Ado Sanusi, made the recommendation when he hosted officials of GCAA at the weekend. He said a single airspace was imporant, because it would help the sky to meet up with the challenges of the growing aviation market in the region, while Ghana agreed that it would be the needed synergy to advance aviation development in both countries.

Sanusi said a single sky for West Africa was necessary and realistic, considering the agitation for a high profile aviation sector by member states. He said such seamless service through a single sky had already taken roots in Europe, Asia and America, saying ?it is good for us to start here, in order to improve air traffic services, safety and efficiency.?

He said the single sky would allow for co-operation, equipment integration and man-power development among air traffic service providers in the sub-region, and would be beneficial for stakeholders in the region to always share ideas on procurement, installation and maintenance of equipment to save cost.

The head of the two man delegation, Simeon Allotey who is the Acting Director General ,Ghana Civil Aviation Authority[GCAA],added that having common procedures and co-operation amongst the air traffic service providers were the needed synergy to boost safety and growth in the sub region.

He disclosed that about 35 flights operate between Accra and Lagos, making both countries a major player in the aviation sub-sector of the West Coast. Allotey accompanied on the trip by Albert Aido Taylor, Director, Air Traffic Services, stated further that a regular meeting amongst the service providers would always promote safety, just as he attributed most of the air accidents to human errors.

The Ghanaian aviation boss and his host stressed the need for the establishment and proper utilization of Safety Management System and Quality Assurance [SMS/QA] in the aviation sector to ensure safety in the African Skies.

Allotey, who was conducted round some of the NAMA facilities before leaving the country, commended the Nigerian government over the transformation of the Lagos Airport, pointing out that the air traffic console and the new Radar system were state of the art equipment that were of global standard.