NAMA Conducts Workshop to Enhance Aeronautical Information Management
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) recently concluded a three-day training workshop on Aeronautical Information Management, targeting top-level management staff.
The workshop, held in Lagos, focused on improving collaboration and harmonisation among critical personnel from the Aero-Comms and Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) departments across the country.
The agency said the training aimed to enhance the efficiency and seamlessness in the collection, processing, storage, and dissemination of aeronautical data. This move is in response to the increasing digitalization of operations within the agency and the broader aviation industry.
In his opening remarks, NAMA’s Managing Director, Engr Ahmed Umar Farouk, emphasised the necessity of embracing automation. Represented by the Director of Air Traffic Services, Mr. John Tayo, Engr Farouk stated, “The training workshop had become imperative as the agency and the aviation industry in general had gone digital in most of their operations, processes, and procedures. Participants must brace up for automation which has come to stay in NAMA.”
Mr. Tayo highlighted the benefits of integrated procedures, such as real-time updates of critical data like NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) and weather reports, and the development of protocols for rapid information dissemination during emergencies.
The workshop also stressed the importance of joint training programs and simulation exercises to improve coordination and response times.
Further benefits discussed included the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to define roles and responsibilities, cross-training personnel to understand various workflows, and the development of automated systems to minimize human error and boost efficiency.
“Aero-Comms and AIS departments are the backbone of information management in NAMA. Without information and data, air traffic controllers cannot function, just as pilots cannot fly. The world has moved from analogue systems into digital dissemination of Aeronautical Information, hence the need for an Aeronautical Information Management system, which is strictly the responsibility of these two departments,” said Engr Farouk.
The workshop highlights the critical role of these departments in ensuring the safety and efficiency of airspace management, advocating for continuous improvement and adaptation to technological advancements in the aviation sector.
