NAMA MD Says Obsolete State Of TRACON Equipment Threatens Airspace Surveillance Service

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar has reiterated that the country is at the risk of losing its airspace surveillance service due to the obsolete state of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) equipment because of the difficulties in getting spare parts as the technology is outdated.

Engr. Farouk explained that the life span of such important high-tech equipment is usually ten years but said since 2014, the TRACON equipment began to go out of fashion as countries around the world began to migrate to more sophisticated and advanced technology.

He emphasized that providing air navigation services in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements might be a challenge if urgent steps are not immediately taken to upgrade the TRACON.

Recall the TRACON project, a crucial, multibillion-naira project was commissioned in 2010 to enhance air safety by providing full radar surveillance across Nigerian airspace.

The project involves nine radar sites maintained by NAMA in partnership with Thales of France, designed to track and identify aircraft in real-time by combining Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) for monitoring, identifying, and controlling air traffic to enhance safety.

Briefing the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmoud Adam Kambari who paid a familiarization visit to his office in Abuja, Engr. Farouk outlined the challenges, ongoing projects and planned projects of the agency.

He said “Our area of urgent attention includes the ATS surveillance service. The TRACON System has aged. Deployment started in 2008 was completed in 2010. The Components are becoming obsolete with no spare parts. Most parts are working without back-up. The airspace is at the risk of losing surveillance service.”