Ebonyi suspends flight operations in Chuba Okadigbo airport
By Ndukaku Ihe
Ebonyi State government has suspended flights at the Chuba Okadigbo airport to complete the installation and hooking up of airfield lighting to the powerhouse at the runway.
Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu who announced this on Thursday, said the installation and hooking up of the Airfield lighting will boost flight operations at the airport and that aircraft will be landing and taking off both in the night and cloudy weather when completed
She disclosed that the airport had recorded over 75 commercial and chattered flight lifting within the three months it commenced full operations before the current suspension of the operation.
Obichukwu who inspected ongoing installation of Airfield lighting at the runway, emphasized that the halt in flight lifting will last for few weeks.
She commended the unwavering support and commitment of Governor Nwifuru in ensuring that all required modern technology are installed in the airport to meet international best standards.
“We have completed the runway traffic lights.This runway traffic lights,if you have been to the airport, you will see when you are landing either in the night or when the weather is somehow cloudy; it guards the pilots to land or to take off.
“So, the whole thing is now completed for the 3.1 kilometer runway. Now, because we want to hook up to the electrical appliances, a powerhouse that will power the lights, we now say aircraft should be suspended for now until we complete the hookup. Because we can’t be hooking up when flights are coming down.
“We want to temporarily hold-on on flight lifting, to enable us to hook up properly to the power chambers. The suspension is very, very temporary. May not last up to three weeks and we resume our normal flight. And we appreciate the fact that we have had so many customers from Ugeb, Obubra,Itigidi, Boki, who pass through here.
“Okigwe and all the environs and other parts of Abia, they come here to board flights. And those of them that come from Lagos and Abuja, they have testified. Even the NCAA, they are equally testifying that we have done well in terms of passenger lifting”,she said
She however announced the engagement of professional security operatives to be patrolling the runway and other places at nights to prevent intruders and criminals from invading the airport to cart away the equipment in the airport.
Obichukwu said the ministry of Aviation and transport technology through the efforts of the governor, Francis Nwifuru has enhanced security of lives and properties at the airport and warned criminals to stay away from the airport or face the wrath of the law.
“Our dear governor, Francis Nwifuru has engaged the services of professional security operatives; the military, police, other security outfits and also the airport guards.
“The guards are retired military men engaged to ensure more security provision in the international airport and these guards are doing marvelously well.Some of them are from Benue State, Kogi State and Cross River State.
The commissioner also announced the establishment Of jet A1 bowser, with twelve thousand capacity for the refilling of aircraft at the airport.
“We are happy to inform you that this particular project has been done and completed. It’s for refilling aircraft, especially those that may have shortage of fuel; they will quickly be refilled here. This project will last for many years but for now, we are having it for six months and it’s renewable. It is constantly here and the aviation oil are all here”, she said.
Ani Emmanuel, a Director in stern energy said: “this is a heavy duty bowser with 12,000 capacity for aircraft fueling. It is a needy thing for the aircraft. We are on contract and it is renewable”, he stated.
Also, Uchenna Christian, an expert in airfield light installation said: “We have completed the installation of the runway traffic lights, and these are the control panels that will power the Airfield lighting system. We call it constant current regulators. They are ready, and all we are doing is to tidy up and do all our connections and energize it.
“No runway in Nigeria as of today, has this type of precision light indicator.
You can see men on ground working on the runway to connect the airfield lighting system, and as such, we can’t compromise safety, and that’s why flight lifting is suspended temporarily to enable us complete and install these facilities. Just few weeks, we will be done.”
