The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency(NAMA)  has not abandoned  CAT 3 ILS bought in 2019,it wa removed for safety reason.

Theresa Ihenachor,the Agency’s Director of Safety,Electronic and Engineering Services(DSEES) told news men at sideline of the just concluded  annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation  (LAAC)  in Lagos.

According to her,when she came on board,the  ILS had a history of unservieability because they ignored the professional advice of her former Director who told the Agency that Nigeria does not have requirement for it.

“So, there are so many things. Our airfield lightning is still on Cat 1. Most of our equipment are downgraded to Cat 2. So, having Cat 3 with the airfield lightning Cat 1 is very difficult. So, even when they installed it, it was downgraded to Cat 2. . So, even with the down-gradation to Cat 2, it was not functioning optimally.”

“So, for safety reasons, you remember, pilots were complaining. Everybody was complaining. So, I said, in order to be on the safe side, because when I came on board, I fixed it for more than seven times within that short period. That’s the Cat 3 ILS.”

“Yes, the Cat 3 ILS at Lagos. When I came on board. So, I fixed it more than seven times consecutively. It doesn’t stay. I found out that it was too sensitive to the environment. We have already downgraded it to Cat 2. It was too sensitive. So, it was giving wrong reading at every slightest thing. There was even one that it was just a bird, a big ant that nested, I don’t know, just a bird that flew or whatever.”

Ihenachor explained that the ILS  was sensitive.” So, we have been fixing it. So, the frequent unserviceability, I looked at safety. Lagos being a very busy airport. So, this issue of frequent unserviceability prompted me to have it removed.”

“ I took permission from the ministry. There was a new equipment meant for another station.

I wrote, I took permission from them because of the safety nature. So, I installed a brand new ILS, this NOMAC Cat 2 which is functioning up till now.”

She said , the reason why she removed  the  CAT 3  was based on safety. It compromised safety because of frequent failure.

“And that frequent failure is as a result of lack of the requisite requirement needed for it. For it to operate, there are some conditions. There are some specifications that it should be associated with. You cannot just go and buy any equipment because it facially beautiful  without adapting it to an environmental factor. “

She said that when she took over  and  were bombarding her with myriad questions”. I said, you have to go and work on airfield lightning. Upgrade it first to Cat 3 to withstand our runway.”

“To match it. We have addressed the issue of power with solar system. So, that is why you’ve not been hearing about unserviceability anymore. Except the ones that are just trying to gain favour. So, that is the issue. I try as much as possible to make the place very comfortable for them.”