IKEJA- The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has said that 10 of its Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) would commence training on Performance Based Navigation System, before the end of the year.
The agency’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Supo Atobatele, told newsmen in Lagos that the other 30 ATCs would go in three batches in 2015.
Atobatele said that this was part of efforts by the agency to enhance capacity of its critical manpower.
He said that the system was part of the agency’s effort to key into the modern navigational technology and train its engineers on modern technology.
The General Manager said that the agency had trained more than 60 engineers in 2013 to improve their navigational skills according to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standard.
According to him, the Federal Government has given them the approval to send the ATCs for training to improve their knowlledge.
“Forty of the Air Traffic Controllers are going for training on performance based navigation at the Aviation College, Cairo.
“The first batch will commence their training before the end of 2014.
“We have Performance Navigation System on ground and we need to train our engineers so that they can handle effectively the way of navigating to our airports,’’ he said.
Atobatele said the PBN would enable aircraft that are compliant to land faster.
“The PBN facilitates seamless flight operation without the pilot having to contact the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) all the times as they can see all the information on the cockpit while flying,’’ he said.
NAMA migrated from Terrestrial Air Navigation System to a Satellite-Based Navigation System, also known as Performance Based Navigation System in June 2012.
