Flight Tracking Operations Command Centre opens in Lagos

AeroMechanical Services of Calgary, Alberta, through its FLYHT™ brand, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority officially commissioned NCAA’s Flight Tracking Operations Command Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, last week.

The commissioning of the new Command Centre took place at the NCAA headquarters in Lagos during an event which featured a presentation from FLYHT on the products and services it will provide the NCAA plus a presentation by an African airline which has been using FLYHT’s on-board product for the past five years.

The OCC is a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance the safety of Nigeria’s aviation industry. Features include flight following and an alerting capability that is run completely by a satellite-based system and entirely independent of radar. Satellite communications ensure aircraft are tracked anywhere on the planet, without interruption. Dr. Harold Demuren, Director General of the NCAA spoke on behalf of the new centre. Dr. Demuren is well respected in aviation on the Nigerian and international stage. He made history in September, 2010 when he was elected as the first African to preside over the General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). “The NCAA now has an aircraft tracking system, and we can track precise aircraft movements within our airspace,” said Demuren, who was the key leader in achieving the FAA Category 1 Certification for Nigeria in 2010.
	Ribbon cutting ceremony for NCAA's new Flight Tracking Operations command centre with (L to R) Dr. Harold Demuren, general director of NCAA; Mr. Richard Asibioyu, managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; Mr. Ibrahim Auyo, managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
“Safety is very important to us and it is essential that we continue to work hard to keep the CAT 1 Certification. The Operations Command Centre will also help us handle the anticipated increase of air traffic in Nigerian air space.”

“Through FLYHT, we are extremely pleased to contribute to the NCAA’s status as an African leader in aviation safety,” said Derek Taylor, sales director at FLYHT. “We look forward to our sustained partnership with the NCAA to assist the Director General in achieving his goals for Nigeria and we will continue to market AFIRS to Nigeria’s airlines, as an additional feature to gather data off aircraft and to improve safety.”

Derek Taylor; FLYHT sales director, presents a commemorative plaque to Dr. Harold Demuren; general director of NCAA.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 14th April 2011 | Issue #121

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