Singapore Academy, AFCAC Train Nigeria and 14 Other Countries Safety Inspectors In Lagos

Singapore Academy, AFCAC Train Nigeria and 14 Other Countries Safety Inspectors In Lagos

The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has trained 40 Safety Inspectors from Nigeria and 14 other African countries in Lagos.
An online statement signed by the General Manager, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye listed the countries that participated in the five-day Course to include: Burkina- Faso, Cameroon, Niger Republic, Congo, Mali, Cote de Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Chad, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Gambia and Sierra Leone.
The statement depicted that 40 participants from these countries were in attendance for this maiden edition, adding that Nigeria via the NCAA that played host to the pilot edition of Safety Oversight Inspectors Course (Aerodrome) had the largest number with 16 participants.
A breakdown according to Adurogboye showed that NCAA had 13, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had three and other 14 African countries completed the number of participants.
The training according to him has as its focus vital areas of Aerodrome Oversight functions some of which includes overview of the states’ Safety Oversight Obligations, Critical Elements of Safety System, Safety Management System(SMS), Airport Emergency Planning, Operational Services and Maintenance Practices, physical characteristics(runways, taxiways, clearways, stop ways and holding bays).
Others are, visual aids for navigation, indicators and signaling devices, markings, lights, signs and markers, Aerodrome operational service, equipment and installations, rescue and fire-fighting, training programme (review, records and documentation), training of apron drivers, runway incursion prevention, wildlife and foreign object damage management inter alia.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director General, NCAA Capt. Muhtar Usman informed the Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) that the essence of the course was to enhance their safety oversight management capacity of aerodromes through a comprehensive system approach.
The DG also posited that this opportunity given to the African continent by delivering the course in Nigeria will enhance better understanding of roles and responsibilities of aerodrome inspectors.
He stated that it was expected that their knowledge of aerodrome certification and surveillance would impact on safety and security of airline operations in Africa.
On training and partnership, the NCAA boss stated that the agency had been a progressive partner with CAAS and AFCAC in different areas, specifically on Human Capital Development, adding that Inspectors of the authority have participated in several courses organised by these bodies and that the most recent was the Dangerous Goods training in Niger Republic.
Usman commended the management of CAAS and AFCAC for granting NCAA the honour and privilege of hosting the course, just as he expressed optimism that the partnership will continue for the mutual benefit of all parties.
The DG thanked the facilitators led by Peter Ray (Lead Instructor), Bernard Yap (Assistant Instructor, CAAS) and Johnnie Lim (Coordinator, CAAS) for success of the training and their expertise in the course delivery.
Other members of the team included the Director of Safety, AFAC, Papa Fall and Public Relations Officer, AFCAC Racky So Mbacky
He also appreciated the interpreters for a wonderful job in ensuring that language did not constitute any barrier to acquisition of knowledge.
The Aerodrome course hitherto offered in Singapore Civil Aviation Academy was taken to Diaspora for the very first time in its existence.
The first offshore location for the course away from Singapore was at the NCAA Conference Facility, Lagos, Nigeria.