GCAA Statement on Impact of Harmattan on Aviation Safety

GCAA Statement on Impact of Harmattan on Aviation Safety

Accra, 20^th December, 2019 – The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) wishes to notify passengers travelling by air of potential challenges to the smooth operations of airlines during the Harmattan season.

The Harmattan, a dry and dusty wind which engulfs West Africa from late November until March, tends to intensify during the months of January and February.

The poor visibility conditions arising from this phenomenon could lead to flight delays, diversions and possible cancellations, especially where air-to-ground visibility is below GCAA’s prescribed aerodrome operating minima.

It is expected that the Harmattan effect will be severer at the Kumasi, Tamale and Wa Airports, which are in the Northern Sector of the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR). In this regard, GCAA entreats the travelling public to exercise maximum patience during the Harmattan period, should scheduled flights operations be disrupted.

As the Regulator of air transport in Ghana, GCAA has accordingly advised airlines and operators to strictly comply with its Directives and the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pertaining to reduced visibility conditions.

The Regulator assures the general public of its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety in the country.

Resources for Editors

About GCAA

Created in 1986, GCAA is the regulatory agency for air transport in Ghana. It licenses air transport operations, maintains oversight of aviation safety and security, as well as provides air navigation services within the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR), which comprises the airspace of Ghana and a large area over the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea. It is also responsible for consumer protection and the promotion of the development of Ghana’s air transport sector.

Contacts:

Eric Amaning
Manager, Corporate Communications
eamaning@caa.com.gh
+233-302-776171 x 1253
Twitter: @GhCivilAviation
 

Raymond Bayor
Corporate Communications Officer
rbayor@caa.com.gh
+233-302-776171 x 1254
Twitter: @rybayor
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rybayor/

About The Author

Evans Ntiamoah

See author's posts