Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) recently got a boost to its technical manpower need as 21 Cadet Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) graduated at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria, Kaduna State.With the graduation of the Cadet Controllers, the agency is gradually narrowing the gap created by retiring controllers as another group of 17 is being expected to graduate at the college by next month.Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Cadets, Engrineer Ibrahim Abdulsalam, managing director of the agency, charged the remaining students to justify the huge investment in the course of their training by remaining committed and dedicated to duty , in the overall interest of safety of the Nigerian airspace.Abdulsalam noted that as part of the transformation of the aviation sector, resulting in the remodelling of airports and the deployment of sophisticated Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management infrastructure among others across the country, NAMA is investing heavily on the training and retraining of personnel, particularly the safety critical manpower resources in order to ensure the safe, effective, economic and efficient utilisation of these equipment and to keep pace with the dynamics of new technology.According to the NAMA boss,” the increasing demand for air traffic services over the years, occasioned by the rapid growth in population and the establishment of state and privately owned airports nationwide vis a vis the high turnover of critical manpower arising from retirements and deaths prompted the agency to resort to contracting retired Air Traffic Controllers and Air Traffic Engineers as a short-term remedy.”Atobatele Supo, general manager, Public Affairs at NAMA, in a statement quoted the MD assured that with current efforts at training young ATC Cadets, the challenge would soon be tackled.While commending the graduating students for their perseverance and hard work, Engr. Abdulsalam also gave kudos to the management of NCAT for the tremendous support and co-operation accorded the students while the course lasted.Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, rector of NCAT, in his address pointed out that the high academic standard and rigorous training offered by the institution makes it stand out as a centre of excellence and one of the best in the world.He charged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of NCAT by impacting positively to the growth of the nation’s aviation industry.It will be recalled that in its determination to bridge the manpower gap in ATC services, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency in 2012 recruited 50 ATC Cadets with batch AC 57 and 58 resuming at NCAT in February, 2013 while AC59 resumed in July, same year.Earlier, the managing director of NAMA, accompanied by a top management delegation including the Director of Human Resources, Dr Uwem Akangson and the Ag. director of Operations, Mr Edward Ogedegbe was led on an inspection tour of facilities within the college.Places visited include the Area Airways Department, General ATS Department (which boasts of a 3D 360 Visual Tower Simulator for aerodrome control training), Flight Line and Hanger as well as the Flying
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 23:01:57 +0000
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