The management of the lead regulatory agency at the nation’s airports, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has hailed all the telecoms operating in Nigeria and tower management companies for adhering to the laid down directive on Aviation Height Clearance (AHC) in erecting masts across the airport and beyond.
Spokesman of the federal agency, Sam Adurogboye, said in Lagos that the high compliance level by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators was impressive.
In his submission during an interview with Business Hilights Aviation Chief, Adurogboye averred that “Periodically, we usually have meetings with the network providers and the level of compliance has been high.
“From time to time, when they are erecting masts here and there, they do apply for permits and our people will go and inspect.
“I don’t have the specific number of permits issued so far but I can tell you that there is high level of compliance because they know if an aircraft makes contact with any high rise structure it will be disastrous.”
He recalled that the directive is part of NCAA’s oversight responsibilities which is principally to ensure safety and security of flight operations within Nigeria’s airspace.
Adurogboye added that the directive is in line with the Civil Aviation Act. 2006 Part IX (30) (L) which empowers the authority to prohibit, regulate and remove any structure which, by virtue of its height or position, is considered to endanger the safety of aircraft operations.
The Civil Aviation Act 2006 Part IX (30) (K) stipulates that the authority would grant and certify licences for the construction of helipads, helidecks and heliports.
“These landing facilities include construction of helipad, helideck for civil use and heliports.
“It is therefore an exercise in illegality to operate into a heliport (surface level, elevated or helideck) without the approval of the authority,” Adurogboye said.
Business Hilights recalls that several telecoms in the last couple of years have offloaded their base transceiver Stations (BTSs) to tower companies.
