ABUJA: The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to enhance digitalization in the aviation sector, aiming to improve safety and security through the introduction of advanced technology systems. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, revealed this initiative during the inauguration of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight Data Centre (FDC) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Keyamo highlighted the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to modernize various sectors by transitioning from analog to digital systems. He noted that the establishment of the FDC is a step toward achieving this goal, as it will enable the NCAA to regulate the aviation sector more effectively by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the overall customer experience.
Keyamo emphasized that one of the administration’s key objectives is to improve safety within the aviation sector, and the FDC plays a crucial role in achieving this aim. “This syste
m is not just for handling incidents or serious events; it can be used routinely to track flight patterns, human errors, and mechanical issues during flights,” he stated.
Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director-General of NCAA, described the FDC as an essential component of modern aviation. The center is responsible for collecting, processing, and analyzing large volumes of flight data. Najomo outlined the FDC’s key components, including data acquisition, data processing, event detection, and a feedback loop, which together enhance the NCAA’s ability to maintain high safety standards.
Najomo also stressed that the FDC would boost Nigeria’s global credibility by aligning the country’s aviation safety standards with international best practices. He noted that as an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Contracting State, Nigeria is obligated to ensure the highest safety standards, and the NCAA’s collaboration with APS Aerospace Corporation is instrumental in meeting this obligation.
APS Aerospace,
which has over a century of combined experience in Flight Data and Cockpit/ATC Audio Analysis, has partnered with the NCAA to train selected staff in Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems. These systems are critical for systematically collecting, processing, and evaluating flight data to identify trends, anomalies, or safety issues, forming a vital part of modern aviation safety management systems.