The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has stated that Airport Emergency Plan(AEP)must be a collective efforts among internal and external agencies for it to succeed .
He said this while presenting a goodwill message at the Aviation Stakeholders Strategic Conference On Aircraft Emergency Management organised by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN’s) Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services(ARFFS) today in Lagos .
The NAMA Managing Director, who was also the Chairman of the occasion, stated that the workshop was apt given the strategic importance of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service in the airport safety services domain.
He added that more germane is the essence of the workshop, which is promoting the collaboration between internal agencies and external assisting agencies in Aircraft Emergency Response Management.
According to him, “The workshop and theme could not have come at a better time than now ,when the international Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO)emphasis Airport Collaboration Decision Making(A-CDM)as the most effective strategy in achieving an inclusive effective development of customer- centric Airport and Air Navigation Service Development plan in the interest of international civil aviation.”
Akinkuotu hoped that the workshop would provide a workable blueprint that would entrench stakeholders collaboration decision making methodology for the greater benefit of the international and domestic flight operations, adding that ARFFS is the heart of airport safety services as a result deserves priority attention, which the gathering has signified.
On his part, the Managing Director, FAAN,Engr. Saleh Dunoma, stated that it was the best time for the agency to hold a conference that addresses the challenges usually experienced in the handling and management of aircraft emergencies .
He said that this is because the conference was coming at a time when the process of certifying the five major airports is ongoing.
Speaking further, the FAAN boss, who was represented by the Director of Airport Operations, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, said, “The emergency procedure for all our airports are already being reviewed and improved upon. We shall work with the ARFFS towards organising this conference on a yearly basis to further improve our awareness, readiness and compliance with the best emergency management procedures in the industry.”
He advised that the conference should be made a regular to continuously improve the relationship between the stakeholders with respect to the successful management of aircraft emergency, while FAAN management will continuously strive to meet regulatory requirement and work in synergy with all relevant stakeholders to ensure safety of airport operations at airports.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Usman Muhtar stated that the agency was delighted that the conference was coming up after the successful conduct of simulated full scale emergency exercise held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport,Lagos on May 31,2017 and at a time when MMA is on the verge of being certified ny NCAA after the fulfillment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations(NCARs)on Aerodrome certification.
Muhtar added that the topic, ‘Aircraft Emergency Management’ is considered most appropriate for a conference like this considering the fact that the subject under discussion is core to safety of flight operations and business continuity at the airport.
“In order to achieve robust and effective aircraft emergency management at the airport level, inter –agency collaboration, meeting seminars/conference and regular exercises is absolutely indispensable,” Muhtar said.
The Guest Speaker, ARFF Specialist, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Washington, DC, Marc Tonnacliff, opined that training is very important to Aircraft Emergency Management and that those involved in the emergency management must be familiar with airport environment.
He added that this is to avoid a situation where there is emergency in at point A of the airport and those handling the emergency are headed towards point B.
The FAA ARFF expert also stated that there should be good communication among the emergency stakeholders during aircraft emergency.
The event was attended by FAAN staff, ARFF personnel and other aviation stakeholders.
