PHOTO CAPTION
The National President, National Association of Airtraffic Engineers, (NAAE), Engr. Dung Chuwang, presenting an award to the Chairman of the occasion Engr. E.N.G Oragwu, while the state chairman of NAAE and stakeholders at the event watch
The Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE), recently held its annual workshop which shade light on the “challenge of the 21st century of the Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP), in Lagos.
In a key note address, the Air safety and License Inspector, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engr. E.N.G Oragwu, who is also the chairman of the occasion, said that “everybody in aviation and non-aviation industry are looking up at our pace in terms of making sure that the systems are working well irrespective of the challenges”.
He said that the maintenance of the radar still remain our primary core mandate.
Oragwu, in his address said that “when we started back in the days, it wasn’t this huge and when I look around now, I see more than 600 trained, licensed and rated ATSEP members, it gladdened my heart.
“You will also bear me witness that back in those days, we were not recognized like our counterparts, but today we are recognized with the highest progress so far and for that reason we must try to fight our future challenge now, so as it will not affect the future ATSEPs when we leave”.
Delivering a paper on the “challenge of the 21st century ATSEP”, the Technical Adviser to MD/CEO, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Johnson Otitolaye, highlighted some of the challenges as technology change, ATSEP license not yet included in the ICAO Annex 1, lack of required competency training and initial training missing at times and not enough training periods as some of the challenges.
He also urged the management to take up these challenges and make sure that ATSEPs are trained on a regular basis on new technology.
“Setting a new agenda for ATSEPs in a way of creating awareness on new developments, play key roles in policies making and a way that professional associations should continue self-development of ATSEPs will help go along way”, Engr. Johnson said.
Representative of the Director, Safety Engineering and Electronics Services, NAMA, Engr. Farouk Umar, said that ATSEPs are dedicated members and whose works cannot be compromised.
Giving a lecture on the legal regime of ATSEP, the DGM, Training and Licensing, NAMA, Engr. Adeyinka Osunwusi, said any association or organization that is not backed by law is doing a jamboree game.
“ATSEP is legally backed with law and as a matter of fact, it is being regulated by NCAA because we are professionals and our roles and responsibilities is regulated in accordance with International best practices subject to international/ national civil aviation standards and recommended practices because our job is linked to certification”.
In a good will message, the national President, NAAE, Engr. Chuwang Dung, said “it gives me great joy to be present at this year’s annual workshop” and used the opportunity to commend the ATSEP members to continue their best in making sure that safety is guaranteed.
Engr. Dung also congratulated the new batch of ATSEPs that recently graduated from from Zaria (ATSEP 36).
Giving vote of thanks, the Chairman, Lagos chapter of National Association of Airtraffic Engineers (NAAE), Engr. Tony Nwose, said he is so delighted to have seen a great success of the annual workshop and thanked all participants, lecturers and members of the association.
