The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) on Tuesday, advised pilots and airline operators to be cautious with hazardous weather during the current rainy season.
The warning is contained in an Advisory Circular (AC) with reference no AC: NCAA-AEROMET – 33 initiated by the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) addressed to all pilots and operators and signed by the Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu.
The warning came following the advent of the Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, released for 2022 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET.
NIMET had predicted thus: “April/May and June 2022 is the onset of rainy season in central and northern parts of Nigeria.
“Rainy season, at outset, is usually characterised by severe thunderstorms and many other hazardous weather phenomena, such as severe turbulence, microburst, low level wind shear events that could affect the safety of flight operations, hence, the need for all stakeholders to perform their roles in order to ensure safety of flight operations.
“With the issuance of this circular, Advisory Circular (AC): NCAA – AEROMET 32 is accordingly cancelled.
Therefore, enumerated is the responsibility for Air Traffic Controllers, ATCs, in the interest of safety:
Air Traffic Controllers, ATC, may temporarily close the airspace when hazardous weather conditions, such as severe thunderstorms, squall lines microburst or low level wind-shear are forecast by NIMET.
