In a move to enhance Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, recently led a high-profile delegation to Helsinki, Finland and Vienna, Austria.
The visit aimed at conducting critical factory inspections and engaging in familiarisation meetings with two of the world’s leading aviation infrastructure equipment manufacturers, Vaisala and Frequentis AG. These engagements are pivotal for the supply of essential equipment for the ongoing construction of the Abuja second runway.
Special adviser on media and communications to the minister, Tunde Moshood disclosed that the delegation included key figures in Nigeria’s aviation sector, including the managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Faruk 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 initiated by the managing director of Avsatel Georg Eder MBA, his deputy, Engr. Abdullahi Bayi, alongside the chief consultant on Airfield Lighting (AFL), NavAids, communications and meteorology for the project, KEFE Engineering Limited, Engr. Mohammed Sodiq.
The first leg of the delegation’s visit took place in Helsinki, Finland. Here, they conducted a detailed inspection of the weather radar at Helsinki Airport. This was followed by a comprehensive meeting with the management and a tour of the manufacturing plant of Vaisala OYJ, the world’s largest developer and manufacturer of meteorological equipment. The Nigerian delegation was warmly received by Vaisala’s senior team, including Application Manager Mauri Vapola; R&D Manager Juha Salmivaara and director for MEA for Central Asia and Ukraine Kimmo Rustolainen.
During their visit, the Vaisala team provided an in-depth overview of the company’s core specializations. These included Automatic Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), Runway Visual Range (RVR), Windshear Alert Systems, Weather Radar Integration, Lightning Information Integration, and Runway Management. The tour of the meteorological equipment at Helsinki Airport offered the delegation valuable insights into the operational efficiency and technological advancements employed by Vaisala.
The second leg of the tour took the delegation to Vienna, Austria. There, they met with the management and toured the manufacturing plant of Frequentis AG, a global leader in voice communication and control systems for air traffic management. Vice-president and head of global sales group for Frequentis AG, Dr. Bernd Novak presented their cutting-edge voice communications switch.
Following this presentation, the NAMA MD, Engr. Faruk Ahmed Umar and NiMET DG, Prof. Charles Anosike discussed the strategic importance of integrating weather and radar applications on a unified software platform. This synchronisation is expected to significantly enhance safety and operational effectiveness in Nigeria’s air traffic management and weather forecasting.
Keyamo emphasised the importance of this visit, stating, “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.”
