WEATHER HAZARDS IMPACT ON FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT ABUJA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract This study investigate the effects of selected aviation weather hazards on flight operations in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Data on Dust Haze, thunderstorm and fog occurrences (1982 to 2014) were collected from NiMet. Record of flight delays and cancellations (2005 to 2015) and Air accidents (1943 to 2014) were also obtained from Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) respectively. Questionnaire was administered to airline operators and passengers. The data collected were analyzed using Descriptive statistical methods and multiple linear regression analysis. Microsoft excel and SPSS Version 17 were used to plot charts, regression analysis to determine the relationship between the variables. The result reveals that thick Dust Haze account for 50.3% delay and 58.3% cancellation; Thunderstorm account for 48.4% delay and 41.7% cancellation; and Fog account for 1.3% delay and no cancellations. R square indicates 59.76% and 65.99% variation of weather hazards accounts for flight delay and cancellation respectively, while the remaining 40.24% and 34.01% is explained by other factors. It therefore recommended the avoidance of flight during the persistence hours of weather hazards and that all stakeholders (Airline operators and Airport Authorities) should take proactive measures in managing one form of weather hazards or the other that occurs almost throughout the year