FG to install airfield lighting at 13 airports

Thirteen airports are to be fitted with airfield lighting system to enhance the operations of domestic airlines.

Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, disclosed this when he inaugurated the Common User Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) at domestic terminal II of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

He also promoted the concept of one aviation as “safety, security and comfort must be above board.”

Measurement, monitoring and improvement (MMI) are inevitable if Nigeria’s aviation industry must move forward, he stressed

Chidoka disclosed that the ministry has introduced an on-time performance monitoring system to improve service delivery by the airlines, and spoke on the urgent need to listen to pilots to ensure navigational aids are up to date.

“The on-time performance of domestic airlines dropped to an average of 17 per cent in April. April has been a worst month since January when we started the on-time performance monitoring, using the aviation portal,” he lamented.

He said FirstNation Airways still maintained the first position even though it dropped from 37.9 per cent in March to 27 per cent in April.

“We are monitoring this performance in order to improve the on-time performance of domestic airlines. We found out that the poor performance in April was caused by fuel scarcity. So, fuel scarcity impacted on on-time service delivery by the airlines.”

Chidoka expressed concern that in the 21st century, Nigerian pilots are still filing flight plans manually rather than through electronic means in use in most developed and developing countries.

He described it as an embarrassment to aviation but said the ministry has started changing the system for better.

Flight plans are documents filed by a pilot or flight dispatcher with the civil aviation authorities prior to departure.

The CUPPS, installed by Bicourtney Aviation Services, operators of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) domestic terminal II, is the first of its kind in the country.

Christoph Pennick, MMA2 Terminal Managing Director, said the company would continue to implement upgrades to bring the terminal at par with world class standards.

It took Bicourtney about 18 months to complete the installation.

Pennick added that “we have been able to take a huge step with the installation of the CUPPS. It is the first time the technology is deployed in Nigeria. It improves security by automatically generating passenger boarding pass and baggage tags.”

The CUPPS verifies the validity of boarding passes, which enhances security, and eliminates baggage loss by passengers.

“We have invested a lot in human resources and technology. What you see today is a result of the doggedness of management to set the pace for others to follow.”

Bicourtney Chairman, Wale Babalakin, commended the government for its support, adding that aviation operators “must seek to comply with international standards and even exceed them.”

Chidoka commissioned the self service check-in kiosk, screening point, and check in counters at the terminal, all part of the recent upgrade at MMA2.