LAGOS: The Federal Government has installed the long awaited AirField Lighting system at Runway 18 left of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airprot Lagos.
With the installation of the emergency airfield lighting on the popular 2.7 km Runway 18 Left, airlines operators can now operate their flight beyond 6:00pm as landing and take off can effectively be carried out on the runway unlike in the past where they had to burn fuel in taxing to the international wing of the airport before they could take off.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh who lauded the Federal Government and the Minister of Aviation Princes Stella Oduah for the giant step taken to install the airfield lighting system said that the absence of the crucial equipment had forced the domestic airlines to land after sunset at the international wing, thereby burning extra fuel to taxi down to their various terminals before disembarking passengers.
Engineer Udoh further pointed that the installation of the airlifting system was a promise which has come through after many failed promises by previous ministers of aviation adding that this was a Christmas gift to the domestic airlines operators in the country.
“In all, 66 KALKIT brand of emergency airfield and additional two approach lights were deployed by six NAMA engineers working through Monday night and rounded up early Tuesday morning. KALKIT, is ICAO, FAA and UKCAA certified airfield lighting, meaning that the product is of international standard and safe for deployment in any part of the world” he added.
Engineer Udoh further express his gratitude to the engineers who made the installation of the airfield lighting system possible stressing that they defied the pressure at the yuletide season to work round the clock to deliver the immediate deployment of this vital navigational facility on the runway.
According to him,”we are indeed grateful to the federal government, especially the hard working minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah who took the initiative to transfer this safety critical operation to NAMA earlier in the year and we stood all pressure to sustain the successes recorded in the industry”.
