The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has begun the implementation of Free Routing Airspace (FRA) to enhance airspace’s efficiency. The Managing Director, NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkoutu, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday.
The FRA is a specified airspace within which users may freely plan a route between a defined entry and exit points.
- NIGERIA DAILY: Can Technology boost the fight Against Insecurity In Nigeria?
- Despite health implications, FCT butchers still use tyres to process animals
Akinkoutu also assured a sensitisation forum in Lagos that the FRA would further reduce operational cost to airlines operating in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that NAMA had earlier in October, 2021, notified the global aviation community of its intention to start the implementation of the FRA concept in December 2021.
Akinkuotu said: “The journey to the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace in Nigeria started two years ago.
“This follows the decision and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) AFI (African-Indian Ocean) Region.
“This is on the ground that member states should develop necessary strategies towards implementation of FRA in their respective states and regions.
“ICAO, in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA), supported this push by developing the FRA concept of operations, therefore, conducting FRA gap analysis as well as providing guidance in the development of FRA implementation checklist. (NAN)
“After several meetings, workshops and co-ordination among contiguous FIRs (Flight Information Regions), the FRA concept is surely transforming from an abstract idea to concrete reality and that has been largely the Nigerian experience as the nation successfully commenced FRA implementation on the Dec. 2, 2021.”
He noted that the technology was first conceptualised about 13 years ago in Europe, being the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept beginning from 2008.
According to him, however, in the entire ICAO AFI Region, Nigeria is the second country, after Mauritius to implement this global new concept. (NAN)
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
