Performance Evaluation of Terminal Airspace System Safety, Delay and Predictability of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria ()
ABSTRACT
This paper outlines a
multi-dimensional user-oriented performance metrics approach in evaluating the
operation of the terminal airspace system to aid in the airport and airspace
planning and decision making. Safety, delay and predictability metrics contribute
to the analytical framework. From the findings, the occurrence of air incidence
has a high severity level at departure, and arrival phases of flight, higher
likelihood at the radar room and much of the incidences were as a result of
faulty equipment and inherent absence of modern airspace infrastructure. Also,
in Lagos terminal airspace, the number of incidences has no close correlation
with the level of traffic complexity. Total schedule arrival delay ranges from
1 - 392 minutes representing an average of 7.8 - 17.9 minutes per aircraft that
arrived Lagos airport at that period. Besides,
the total approach contact time ranges from 1 - 57 minutes, translating to 4.6
- 7.1 minutes per aircraft. However, variability in arrival time of 1 - 5
minutes is common from published airline arrival scheduled time. In the same
vein, the variability of 1 - 5 minutes is common from approach contact times of
aircraft. These figures indicate sound arrival predictability signature for
Lagos airport. Also, departure time variability above 30 minutes is
familiar from the ATC clearance time for the various routes under study.
However, there is about or more 25% variability of more than 15 minutes, and this indicates possible
inconsistency of predicting departure times from the times Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance was acquired. Above all, the predictability of departure
times in Lagos airport is weak compared to those of the arrival. Taken by it,
this may be a sign of airspace congestion or ATC deficiencies at the Lagos airport.
This is an indication of the lack of users’ confidence in Nigeria’s air
transport industry to deliver just-in-time service.
Share and Cite:
Ejem, E. , Ikeogu, V. , Okafor, C. and Erumaka, P. (2020) Performance Evaluation of Terminal Airspace System Safety, Delay and Predictability of Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria.
Journal of Transportation Technologies,
10, 351-363. doi:
10.4236/jtts.2020.104022.