By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government, African Union and other African countries in collaboration with international partners have unveiled Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).
Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika on Thursday in Abuja, said the essence SBAS flight demonstration and outreach workshop was to provide a forum for collaborative, at Flight Demonstration and 2nd Outreach workshop on (SBAS) Adoption In aviation In Africa programme
The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel C. Meribole on behalf of the President Muhammadu Buhari, welcome you all participants to the Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) and Flight Demonstration and Outreach workshop hosted by Nigeria (NAMA),NigComSat and (NCAA)in conjunction with international partners such as the Joint Programme Office of the Satellite Navigation for Africa, European Union Global Action on Space, Augmented Navigation for Africa (ANGA) and others.
“Engagement amongst civil aviation regulatory authorities, air navigation services providers, airspace users, equipment manufacturers, equipment providers, aircraft manufacturers, etc.
“The event is therefore aimed at demonstrating the use of available SBAS service for enroute navigation, terminal approach and landing to provide proof of concept on the availability, reliability, accuracy and integrity of the service for safe and efficient flight operations.
“This SBAS flight demonstration and workshop could not have come at a better time than now when the aviation industry is desperately seeking for safe, efficient and cost
effective ways of recovering from the devastating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to survive the prevailing global economic and security challenges.
“Therefore, to support the aviation industry to attain full recovery and resilience, strategic measures must be implemented to enhance safety, efficiency, capacity, cost effectiveness, interoperability, seamlessness, access and equity, as well as environmental sustainability.
“This workshop you will be enlightened on how the above strategic objectives can be achieved with SBAS implementation at all phases of flight.
Related Posts
“The necessity for the implementation of SBAS in the African region cannot be overemphasized especially in view of the high cost of installing, maintaining and calibrating ground navigational facilities at less busy airports.
The implementation of SBAS will enhance accuracy, integrity, reliability, availability and continuity of air navigation service in continental, remote continental and oceanic airspaces.
The ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan identified three global priorities namely Optimisation of Approach with Vertical Guidance, Continuous Climb Operations (CCO) and Continuous Descent Operations (CDO). It is interesting to note that implementation of these global priorities can be effectively achieved with SBAS.
“The implementation of these global priorities can transform airline fortunes with significant reduction in flight time, reduction in distance flown, reduction in fuel consumption, reduction in C02 emission, reduction in pilot workload,” the minister.
The co – host, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, in his keynote speech, said the deployment of satellite based Augmentation system by using the Navigation Overlay Services would significantly improve accuracy or signal integrity.
“Our security system depends on digital. Our defense system depends on that digital technology and defence naturally comes to the top and this is what is important. I want to welcome you to this very important workshop and to wish you a very successful deliberation,” the Pantami said.
Also, in his welcome address, Prof. Ja’afaru Bambale Executive Director Technical Service of NIGCOMSAT said the NIGCOMSAT-1R Navigation (1-Band) payload provides Navigation Overlay Services, which has disruptive applications not only in the Aviation sector but also in the non- aviation sector.
He further stated that the African Space-based Augmentation System with Pseudo Random Noise (PRN) code 147 conform to the global augmentation systems standard to enhance Interoperability, Compatibility and Zero Interference, aimed to attain a safe and precise satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) for value proposition and productivity over Africa and beyond
“The Nigerian aviation sector is no doubt a vibrant one, they have further demonstrated commitment to further take the sector to a world class state with Satellite Based System to complement African runways and airports with little or no instrument Landing Systems (ILS),” he added.
In his speech, Arc. Yusuf Kazare, Chairman, Nigeria Communication Satellite expressed that the Minister of Aviation who understands that satellite augmentation technology known as SBAS helps to improve the performance of the global Satellite System and can support advanced navigation operations.
Other space agencies who attended the ceremony are: Nigeria Civil Aviation (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), International Civil Aviation Organisation, among others.
