Stakeholders call for continuous training to further improve airside safety

ANTHONY OMOH

One of the resolves of the three day safety workshop to mark the Murtala Muhammed Airport Safety Week in Lagos, is the call to further improve air-side safety given the significant improvement recorded over the years as evident by the near zero incidence on the runways.

This is as stakeholders have called for continuous training in a bid to strengthen security along the air-side to forestall any form of incidents in that sensitive area.

Speakers at the events with the theme “Air-side Safety, the Very Essence of Aviation” advised that only authorized establishments by the airport management authority should always utilize the airport perimeter routes for airport management service purposes.

They said that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), airlines and other managers of the facilities are doing everything possible to prevent and reduce all foreseeable risks of accidents, and incident around the air-side of the airports.

Chief Executive of Talk Transport and Safety Consult Limited, Mr. Amaobi Imediegwu emphasized the need for vigilance around the runways, taxiways and taxi lanes, the ground transportation, grass areas as well as the apron areas and airport lighting.

Mr. Amaobi noted that runway safety is a significant challenge and top priority for everyone in aviation.

Other speakers spoke on the need to effectively carry out protection of navigational aids, prevent wildlife hazard, prevention of runway incursion, excursion and confusion and effective communication around the air-side.

Also speaking, Director of Airport Operations of FAAN, Capt. Henry Omeogu explained that FAAN, like sister agencies across the globe continuously imbibe a safety culture among those who walk around the runway and deploy resources to ensure that the airports air-side operation is given all the support it requires in the areas of manpower, training, equipment and orientation.

He said “air-side safety require the conscious effort made primarily by airport operators, airlines, stakeholders to ensure the deployment of safety culture around the aircraft manoeuvring areas at the airports that ensure safe operations of aircraft”.

Capt. Omeogu said that safe culture is an integral part of the industry and takes many forms, including standard operating procedures, adoption of new technologies and ensuring that safety is the driving force behind FAAN operations around the airports.