Aviation Minister leads delegation to Europe for factory inspections

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), recently led a high-level delegation to Europe as part of efforts to advance the ongoing construction of Abuja’s second runway.

The delegation visited Helsinki, Finland, and Vienna, Austria, to conduct crucial factory inspections and engage in familiarization meetings with two leading aviation infrastructure equipment manufacturers—Vaisala OYJ and Frequentis AG.

According to a statement released by Tunde Moshood, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Minister, the delegation included key aviation officials such as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Faruk Ahmed Umar; the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Charles Anosike; and the Director of Engineering at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Abiola Adejare.

The visit was facilitated by Avsatel’s Managing Director, Georg Eder, and his deputy, Engr. Abdullahi Bayi, along with the project’s Chief Consultant on Airfield Lighting (AFL), NavAids, Communications, and Meteorology, Engr. Mohammed Sodiq of KEFE Engineering Limited.

The first stop in the European tour was Helsinki, Finland, where the delegation inspected the weather radar systems at Helsinki Airport. This was followed by an extensive meeting with the management team of Vaisala OYJ, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of meteorological equipment.

The Nigerian team was hosted by key figures from Vaisala, including Mauri Vapola, Application Manager; Juha Salmivaara, R&D Manager; and Kimmo Rustolainen, Director for MEA for Central Asia and Ukraine.

During the visit, Vaisala’s team provided an in-depth overview of their core specializations, including Automatic Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), Runway Visual Range (RVR), Windshear Alert Systems, Weather Radar Integration, Lightning Information Integration, and Runway Management.

The Nigerian officials were also given a tour of Vaisala’s manufacturing facilities and received insights into the operational efficiencies and technological advancements of the meteorological equipment at Helsinki Airport.

The delegation then proceeded to Vienna, Austria, where they visited the headquarters and manufacturing plant of Frequentis AG, a global leader in voice communication and control systems for air traffic management. The Nigerian team was received by Dr. Bernd Novak, Vice President and Head of Global Sales Group at Frequentis AG, who presented an overview of their state-of-the-art Voice Communications Switch.

Following the presentation, NAMA MD Engr. Faruk Ahmed Umar and NiMET DG Prof. Charles Anosike engaged in discussions on the importance of integrating weather and radar applications on a unified software platform. This approach is expected to significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic management and weather forecasting in Nigeria.

Commenting on the visit, Minister Festus Keyamo emphasized its importance in ensuring that Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure is equipped with cutting-edge technologies. “This visit is a crucial step in ensuring that our aviation infrastructure is equipped with the latest technologies to enhance safety and efficiency. The partnerships we are forging with industry leaders like Vaisala and Frequentis AG are vital for the successful implementation of our projects, such as the Abuja second runway,” Keyamo stated.