Godwin Udoh
The concession of Asaba airport by the Delta State Government has been a target on right direction, following the successful verification of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the airport.
Managing Director of the Asaba Airport Company, Christophe Penninck disclosed this in Asaba during a successful verification of the ILS by using drone which is first of its kind in the country.
“It is specially used in low visibility conditions and this means that in the past when we had flight cancellations during harmattan or raining season.
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“During harmattan and raining season we will not have flight cancellations anymore except it goes below the very minimal.
The airpost boss further added, that with the successful verification of the ILS, we will now invite NAMA who will do the calibration of the ILS, then airlines would be able to land at the airport at detoriated weather conditions up to 800 meters.
” the Nigeria Space Management Agency (NAMA) would formally carry out the calibration and certification following the successful verification of the ILS.
“The equipment was installed prior to our arrival September 2021 and in order to make sure that the equipment is well tuned, we invited a specialist company from Spain and South Africa to do a verification with the drone because it gives a more accurate reading than an aircraft.
“The specialist arrived a few days ago and with the four flights we have done we are actually spot on and on perfect angle.
“When the NAMA aircraft will be available to do the calibration it will pass it with 100 percent which means that in the near future we will have a finally calibrated ILS in Asaba.
“This will also make us the first airport in this region and that will enable us to fly in an aircraft during detoriated weather conditions.
“We intend to build the traffic here from early morning to late at night and also aiming at getting international flights here but without proper calibrated and certified equipments its not possible.
“So we actually doing step-by-step upgrading the facilities at the airport to have more traffic and to give Asaba the opportunity to develop and be the gateway of the South South.
