BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) recently concluded a comprehensive three-day workshop in Lagos, focusing on Aeronautical Information Management and the synchronization of procedures for its senior management team.
Attendees from the Aero-Comms and Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) departments nationwide gathered to emphasize the importance of seamless collaboration and integrated procedures.
The workshop underscored the critical need for harmony among key agency personnel to enhance the efficiency in collecting, processing, storing, and disseminating aeronautical data.
Engineer Ahmed Umar Farouk, the Managing Director of NAMA, inaugurated the workshop, highlighting the necessity of such training as the aviation industry embraces digital operations. He urged participants to adapt to the enduring wave of automation within NAMA.
Represented by Mr. John Tayo, Director of Air Traffic Services, Engr Farouk outlined the advantages of integrated procedures and collaboration between communication and information services.
Key benefits include the implementation of real-time updates for crucial data like NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) and weather reports, the establishment of protocols for swift information dissemination during emergencies, and the execution of joint training programs and simulations to enhance coordination and response times.
Additional benefits highlighted include the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) delineating the roles and responsibilities of communication and information services personnel, cross-training to foster an understanding of interdepartmental workflows and challenges, and the creation of automated systems to minimize human error and boost efficiency.
“Aero-Comms and AIS departments are pivotal in information management within NAMA. Without accurate information and data, air traffic controllers and pilots cannot perform their duties effectively.
The transition from analogue to digital Aeronautical Information dissemination necessitates a robust Aeronautical Information Management system, a task entrusted to these two essential departments,” stated Engr Farouk.
