From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Air Staff(CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has again reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), to enhance its Safety Management Systems across its units and formation with a special focus on operational and engineering units.
Air Marshall Abubakar, also said that the NAF is fully committed to developing, implementing and reviewing policies to ensure that its operations and other activities are conducted in a safe environment.
The NAF chief, made this known while, declaring open the 2023 NAF Safety Review Board (SRB) meeting held in Abuja.
While noting that safety management remains a major priority and core function in the NAF, given the technical and complex nature of assigned tasks and roles of the Service, Abubakar, reiterated his commitment to ensuring continuous improvement in safety standards through deliberate programmes aimed at enhancing flight safety as well as occupational and domestic safety in the NAF.
The NAF Chief, said some of the platforms acquired by the Federal Government have arrived the country and will soon boost the NAF’s combat capabilities as well as help in increasing its operational tempo hence the need for safety vigilance.
He said “My resolve is to ‘transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environment, using safety as the bedrock”.
“We are aware that an increase in operational tempo will lead to an increase in hazards associated with our operations in line with ICAO’s postulation that hazards are the by-products of production or operational activities.”
While calling for a proactive management of safety in all units and commands, Abubakar, charged operational units where newly acquired NAF aircraft would be domiciled to commence the process of aggressively identifying hazards associated with the arrival and operations of the new platforms and finding ways to manage the risks involved.
The CAS, who is also the Chairman of the NAF Safety Review Board further noted the need for field Commanders to ensure that the safety trainings translate to the development of positive safety culture, improvement in safety practices as well as creation of awareness that safety is the responsibility of all personnel.
Earlier in his address, the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Micheal Onyebashi said that the SRB is designed to discuss and review issues related to safety policies and regulations as well as allocate resources for enhanced safety standards in the NAF.
He further stated that the Board is expected to provide appropriate directives and guidelines that would ensure the entrenchment of a positive safety culture in the NAF.
The meeting featured paper presentation on Safety Management System and Human Factors by Air Vice Marshal Gabriel Odesola (Rtd), review of NAF Safety Outlook and briefs by various Air Officers Commanding, amongst others.