Abuja Airport Stakeholders Strengthen Aviation Safety with Quality Management System Meeting

Aviation stakeholders at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, concluded a high-level Quality Management System (QMS) meeting aimed at improving safety and service delivery in the aviation sector. 

The meeting, held on Monday, 21 October 2024, brought together key players in the industry, including representatives from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Airforce (NAF), and Green Africa Airlines.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, assured attendees of the agency’s commitment to delivering high-quality meteorological services tailored to the needs of the aviation sector. 

Represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Asaniyan Taiwo, Prof. Anosike highlighted the ongoing modernisation efforts within NiMet, including substantial investments in advanced equipment and technology to enhance weather observation, forecasting, and dissemination capabilities.

“In our commitment to providing resilient and customer-focused services, we have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with both local and international partners. 

“These collaborations aim to deliver improved NiMet products and services, ensuring the safety of air navigation in Nigeria and a sustainable aviation sector,” Prof. Anosike stated during his address.

The meeting, which took place at the Hajj Centre within the Domestic Airport Private Wing, facilitated discussions on several critical areas essential to the sector’s safety and operational efficiency. 

Usman Abdulrahman, Head of the Quality Management System (QMS) at NiMet, detailed the key points covered. These included the importance of airline pilots attending flight crew briefing rooms (FCBR) for pre-flight planning, and the necessity of training airline dispatch officers in basic meteorology to bolster their role in flight planning and dispatch.

Additionally, the introduction of a robust weather application was discussed as a means to improve access to real-time weather information and streamline the retrieval of aviation products and services. 

A further significant point of discussion was the procurement of the Aviation Terminal Information System (ATIS), designed to reduce the workload on air traffic controllers and enhance the overall efficiency of air traffic management.

The QMS meeting is expected to lead to a strengthened focus on safety and operational improvements across the aviation sector, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to meeting international aviation standards.