NCAA Wants Airlines To Involve Flight Dispatchers In Safety Reporting, Occurrence Investigations
The Director General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Ona Najomo says airline operators need “to actively involve Dispatchers in safety reporting, occurrence investigations and continuous safety improvement initiatives.”
In his keynote address delivered at the Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria (FLIDAN) Conference held in Lagos, Najomo, who was represented by Director of Operations, Licensing & Training Standards (DOLTS), Capt. Donald Tonye Spiff said “Flight Dispatchers must be fully integrated into airline operational decision making and Safety Management Systems (SMS). Their unique position enables them to identify operational hazards, contribute to risk assessments and support informed decision- making before and during flight operations.”
Najomo said NCAA recognizes that flight Dispatchers are not merely flight planners. “They are safety critical professionals whose expertise and professional judgment contribute significantly to every safe flight. Through effective flight planning (Nig. CARs 8.8), weather analysis ((Nig. CARs 8.13.1.8), fuel management (Nig. CARs 8.8), operational control (Nig. CARs 8.13.1.4) and continuous flight monitoring (Nig. CARs 9.3.1.23)8), Flight Dispatchers work alongside flight crews to ensure that every flight is conducted safety and efficiently.”
He said NCAA’s strategic vision for Flight Dispatchers is anchored on three key pillars namely Safety, Competency and Integration, adding that NCAA “will continue to work closely with airlines, Aviation Training Organizations, professional associations and all industry stakeholders to ensure that our regulatory framework remains responsive to emerging technologies.”
“The future of aviation will be driven by digital transformation, data analysis, artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated operational technologies. While these innovations will enhance operational efficiency, they will never replace sound professional judgment. Instead, they should empower Flight Dispatchers with better information for safer and more informed decisions,” he stated.
