Passengers May Suffer Flight Delays, Flight Cancellation During Festive Period – NCAA

Hard times are here for air travelers as the Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) alerted of imminent
flight delays or outright cancellations between now and
March next year.
According to the NCAA, the development is due to
harsh weather associated with harmattan. The body
had recently issued a weather alert to all pilots of
hazards associated with harmattan dust haze in flight
operations at this period of the year.
The regulatory body noted that the warning was
important because of the obvious threat harmattan
posed to aircraft, particularly in areas of challenging
terrains due to low visibility. NCAA added that the alert
was in line with the seasonal rain prediction issued by
the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on the
cessation of rainy season in 2014.
“The Harmattan is a dry and dusty wind that blows
southwards from the Sahara across the country
between the end of November to March, the following
year,” a statement by the General Manager, Public
Affairs in the NCAA, Fan Ndubuoke said.
“On its passage over the desert, it picks up large
amount of fine dust particles (0.5 to 10 micrometers)
which are transported hundreds of kilometres over the
south. The effect of the dust and sand stirred by the
wind is known as Harmattan Dust Haze. In addition, the
consequence of the harmattan is a heavy fog hence air
– to – ground visibility is considerably reduced.
“Aerodrome visibility may fall below the prescribed
minima and in severe conditions; dust haze can blot out
runways, the markers and airfield lightings over wide
areas. This makes visual navigation extremely difficult
or impossible.
“Resultantly, where visibility falls below the prescribed
weather minima, flight operations are likely to be
delayed, diverted or outrightly cancelled.
“Therefore, all Pilots shall obtain adequate departure,
en route and destination weather information and
briefing from NIMET prior to flight operations at all the
airports. Pilots are similarly advised to exercise
maximum restraint when strong surface wind, fog or
harmattan haze is observed or forecast. All concerned
are required to ensure compliance with this circular,”
the statement read.