The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says it has recorded success in the test-run of its Area Control Centre (ACC) at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

This is contained in the weekly publication of NAMA’s Public Affairs Department, made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

The publication stated that the test-run was part of NAMA’s preparation for the deployment of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract/ Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (ADS-C/ CPDLC) in the nation’s airspace.

It explained that the test-run involved successful log-on and communication with KLM flight KLM597, Ethiopian Airlines flight ETH936, Saudi Air flight SVA977, Qatar Air flight QTR771 and Air France flights AFR896 and AFR976.

The publication stated that with the successful test-run of ADS-C/CPDLC in Lagos and Kano ACCs, NAMA was set for the actual take-off of the service across the nation’s airspace on November 12.

It said that NAMA’s Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Abdulsalam, described Kano as strategic to the project because of the prevalence of over flyers in the region that would mostly depend on the service.

The publication quoted Abdulsalam as saying that “Kano has less of terminal traffic but more of en-route traffic and ADS-C/CPDLC enhances en-route flight trajectories in the upper airspace.”

It added that the service was targeted at high-climbing traffic and long distance flights between Flight Information Regions (FIR) as well as any aircraft with voice communication challenges no matter the altitude.

According to the publication, aircraft in a state of emergency, if they are equipped, can log on and establish communication with air traffic controllers.

“The introduction of ADS-C/ CPDLC will see more traffic gravitating towards the Nigerian airspace because of the enhanced safety and efficiency which the service provides.

“It would be recalled that NAMA, had on October 12, commenced the test-run at the Lagos ACC with Mr Usman Muhtar, Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Mr Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), in attendance.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Aminu Kano Int’l Airport, Kano.