The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has begun the training of about 40 Aeronautical Meteorological Observers and Forecasters in Katsina State.
Declaring the exercise open, Director-General (DG) of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako-Matazu, said the training was to enhance effective service delivery in the aviation sector.
Bako-Matazu, who is also the NiMet’s Chief Executive Officer, was represented by the agency’s Director of Weather Forecasting Services, Mailadi Yusuf.
The NiMet boss explained that participants were selected across the 36 states of the federation.
He said the training would help the forecasters and observers to design routes for aircraft to avoid hazardous phenomena like lightning, icing, turbulence and thunderstorms.
According to him, it will also help them to design other flight hazards that could affect a flight’s ability to depart or arrive at its destination on time and safely.
He also reminded participants on the importance of forecasting for the conditions determined by the meteorological parameters such as wind, precipitation, turbulence, temperature and visibility.