The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has upgraded its navigation infrastructure nationwide with the deployment of Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) flight procedures.
The new infrastructure, The Guardian learns, will improve safety, improve the airline’s operational efficiency and increase profitability in the long term through reduced operational costs.
Acting Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, after the successful flight test of SBAS flight procedures using the agency’s calibration aircraft, recently in Abuja, expressed confidence that the infrastructure will increase the airline’s efficiency through reduced flight time and turnaround time.
Pwajok recalled that NAMA had previously implemented Performance Based Navigation (PBN) in 32 airports including military, private, state government and federal government airports.
“The essence of SBAS is to increase the integrity, accuracy, availability and continuity of the PBN signal by using the ground infrastructure or the master station that receives the signal from several satellites, triangulate and take the best location and then distribute it through the global broadcast media that will be received by the aircraft anything in that airspace.
“So, we have done the PBN that provides the lateral guidance needed to locate the airport but we have gone further to improve it by implementing a precision approach using satellites provided by the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT),” he said.
Pwajok explained that PBN provides lateral guidance for aircraft to find the airport, SBAS will provide better accuracy, better signal integrity, availability and signal continuity because it collects information from several signals or satellites instead of aircraft using only. one signal from the Global Positioning System (GPS) to fly.
“So, the example of several satellites will increase the accuracy indication. The aircraft can then be used for better accuracy in approach and landing, better accuracy when flying on the route, and better accuracy in the descent profile even if it gives the ability to provide lateral guidance aircraft, and vertical guidance for approach and landing or take-off. -off and climb for enroute flight. With this, it has helped us to maximize the use of limited air space and reduce what is called a controlled flight to the terrain,” said Pwajok.
He said that SBAS will be a win-win situation for airlines over time, adding that they have focused on reducing costs and increasing profits and this innovation will surely benefit them greatly.