RAJAB 15, 1429 A.H.
FRIDAY JULY 18 2008
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Ramp control, policies and regulations (I)
Preamble: All protocol observed:
The chairman of the occasion, managers FAAN, NAMA, NIMET and my organisation NCAA. Furthermore, congratulation to the stakeholders, primary and derived customers of aviation industry, distinguished gentlemen and members of the press welcome ladies and gentlemen.
The safety week has been brought to you, as our deserved primary and derived customers, in order to give brief but everlasting enlightenment on specific nature of Airside.
So, in line with the common saying that when you’re in Rome you should do as the Romans do. In the like manner, our objective is to introduce to our customers that there is need to behave in accordance with the well laid out procedures by ICAO any time we are found on the Airside either performing duties or travelling by air and even when we revisiting as admirers of the industry.
All the above are well controlled/managed movements through interpretations of a lot of signages at different points within the airport. In order to regulate movements of people, vehicles and ultimately the aircraft on the airside, security personnel are positioned at the appropriate areas for safety reasons.
So, in line with standard practices of ICAO and her Annexes, FAAN in collaboration with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority have worked out some presentable information that will polish further understanding on why, whenever we are at the vicinity of any airport we are to be at alert as so many activities that go on simultaneously are highly regulated for safety reasons.
Signages or codes are generally employed for movement regulation on airside in order to be in total compliance with all the enacted Annexes by ICAO as established by the ICAO convention of 1944 in Chicago.
It is through this convention that references are drawn for regulations of Civil Aviation Industry worldwide and as such the following three objectives relating to Ramp Safety Practices are targeted.
1. Description of special rules.
2. Highlight of the need to be alert to airside hazards and
3. Finally, description of how safety can be improved upon and achieved.
It is in line with all the above, that Nigerian as a contracting state of ICAO enacted all necessary laws in form of the present Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations along side establishing agencies such as NCAA, NAMA, NIMET and the likes for ease of governance in all federally owned airports in Nigeria.
With autonomy being currently given to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority any offender or defaulter of the regulations can even be prosecuted.
Introduction:
Being a contracting state, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is responsible to provide safe aircraft operating environment both in air and on ground under the term of the ICAO convention of 1944.
In fulfilling these responsibilities, the state enact and adopt Acts, Regulations and Standards that governs Aviation Safety.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as the regulatory body, is charged with the task of ensuring compliance by stakeholders (service providers and operators) with appropriate Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs), such as:
Regulation 59:- Offences at an Aerodrome
1. Any person who, at any aerodrome, unlawfully and intentionally uses any device, substance or weapon to:
(a) Commit an act of violence which causes or is likely to cause grievous hurt of any person, or
(b) Destroy or seriously damage any aircraft or facility at an aerodrome or distrupt any service at an aerodrome.
Shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a life or to a fine of not less than N10 million.
2. Any person who attempts to commit or abets the commission of any offence under Sub-section (1) of this section shall also be deemed to have committed such offence and shall be liable on conviction to the punishment provided for such offence.
Destruction of or damage to air navigation and other facilities
Regulation 60:
1. Any person who unlawfully and intentionally destroyed or damages air navigation and meteorological facilities or interfered with their operation in such a manner as is likely o endanger the safety of aircraft in flight shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine not less than N500,000 or both.
2. Any person who attempts to commit, or abets the commission of any offence under Sub-section (1) of this section shall also be deemed to have committed such offence and shall be liable to the punishment provided for that offence.
Federal High Court to try offences
Regulation 63:
1. The Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to try offences committed under this act and to hear all other matters involving the authority and its obligation under any law.
2. Without prejudice to the power of Attorney General of the Federation in Section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the authority shall with the conscent of the Attorney General of the Federation have power to initiate and undertake the prosecutor in its name, of any person in respect of any offence created under regulation, rule or order made pursuant to this act.
At this juncture permit me to elaborate the topic in question “Ramp Control, Policies and Regulations” to cover manoeuvering and movement areas.
Jurisdiction:
1. The control of the airside with regard to operational activities, discipline and apron control are the responsibilities of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
2. The control of aircraft taxing from runway to aircraft stands and vice versa comes under Aerodrome Control Tower (NAMA).
General instruction:
The NAMA control tower is responsible for the control of the movement of vehicles on the manoeuvring area. To maintain such control, vehicles operating on the manoeuvring area should be fitted with radio-telephony facility (RTF), on the appropriate channel or closely escorted by an RTF equipped vehicle.
When vehicles are operating in close proximity to aircraft, drivers should be extremely vigilant and complex in full with local procedures and ATC instructions.
Correct RTF operating technique must be observed by all users. It is important that all vehicles on the movement area maintain a continuous listening watch.
The driver of a vehicle is not permitted to communicate on radio-telephony set/hand-phone/walkie-talkie whilst the vehicle is in motion.
