Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Potential Aerodrome Obstacles on Flight Safety Operations in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano-Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the spatial pattern of the potential aerodrome obstacle on flight safety
operations, in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Quick Bird satellite images, coordinates from field survey using Different Global Positioning System (DGPS) and administrative map of the study area, were some of the data used for the study. Average nearest neighbor statistics was utilized to analyze the spatial patterns of distribution of the identified aerodrome obstacles. The obstacles were determined by establishing baseline of known length with the feature normal to the midpoint of the baseline. Two differential GPS points were formed at the end of the baseline. Two Theodolite readings were taken from each end of the baseline plus a distance. The result showed that the obstacles on the approach surface, runway, inner horizontal surface, conical surface and transition surface were clustered having a nearest neighbor index. While the obstacles on the take-off climb and the outer horizontal surface were dispersed with the index value greater than I. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Nigeria being a member state of ICAO, should as a matter of urgency be ICAO e-TOD compliant (Electronic, Terrain and Obstacles data). This will go a long way in checking the menace of Aircraft/Obstacles collision to the barest minimum, so as to ensure regularity, efficiency and above all safety in aviation industry.