The Director General, of the Nigerian Meterological Agency (NIMET),has warned that the onset of the rainy season would come with associated risks and dangers cautioning pilots and airline operators to pilots to be ready to manage severe weather conditions.
Matazu, who gave the warning during a press briefing in Abuja, explained that the information became necessary to sensitize operators especially pilots, on the dangers associated with rainy season.
He said the adverse weather activities associated with the onset period include high intensity storm within a short duration of time, high turbulence that may damage properties, among others.
He stated that the season would be characterised by electrical charges in the atmosphere that would cause thunderstorms, adding that there would be series of microbursts incidents at airports.
He added:”So these microbursts which happen around the airports cause windshear problems and that is why we have an alert system by which we issue alerts to pilots through the Air Traffic Controllers.Now, the negative implications of these weather issues include the fact that they cause severe turbulence during descent or at certain flying levels. You can also experience clear air turbulence and it happens during the onset period of the rainy season.”
Matazu noted that heavy rains during the season would make the surface of airport runways wet leading to skidding, impaired horizontal visibility as well as affect ground operations.
The NiMet boss stated that his agency had issued out special alerts to airlines and other operators across all airports in Nigeria and would continue to issue same as the rainy season sets in fully.
He, however, stated that the agency had been issuing weather updates to Air Traffic Controllers at intervals of 30 minutes daily and that the updates were relayed to pilots.
“So we want pilots to be conscious of precautionary measures and adhere to standard operating procedures to ensure safety in aviation,” he said.
