NIGERIA yesterday joined the rest of the world towards making the nation’s airspace safer as it switched over to the Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) system.
In the aviation world, RVSM describes the reduction of the standard vertical separation required between aircraft flying at levels from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet, in order to increase the number of aircraft that can safely fly in a particular airspace.
The RVSM enhances safety, improves flight time and reduces fuel consumption.
All regions of the world have safely implemented the RVSM concept since 2005, except the Africa/Indian Ocean (AFI) Region, which changed over to the system only yesterday.
Speaking on the development yesterday, the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Harold Demuren, said he believed that airlines and pilots operating in the country have been trained on the RVSM system.
He said: “What it means is that we are going to have many safe flights in high altitude. To do that, the aircraft must be airworthy and have certain equipment on board. If you don’t have the equipment, you will only be able to fly at low altitude, burning more fuel in the process.”
He said the RVSM would engender better service in the sector and decongest the airspace.
Between 1997 and 2005, RVSM was implemented in all of Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and North America, South America, over the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Spokesman, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Supo Atobatele, said the RVSM adoption would give leverage hitherto unavailable to airlines in the country.