WARNINGS: NCAA cautions airlines, Pilots against flying in Adverse Weather

LAGOS — The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, warned airlines and pilots to ensure they get adequate weather information on departure, en route and destination from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET,  before embarking on  flight operations.

 Director General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman   said the warning became necessary because of the  forecast by NIMET that there will be moderate to severe outbreaks of dust in the country during this harmattan period from November 2015 to March 2016.

Muhtar explained that severe outbreaks of dusts could reduce atmospheric visibility significantly and thus impact negatively on flight operations, adding that the agency has directed all airline operators and pilots to comply with the set down rules.

According to him, airlines and pilots should “ensure that adequate departure, en route and destination weather information are obtained from NIMET prior to flight operations, exercise maximum restraint when adverse weather is observed or forecasted by NIMET and ensure that flight operations are scheduled with adequate weather information from NIMET to minimise delay or cancellation of flight operations.”