In a bid to continuously be at par with international regulatory requirements as well as facilitate the operations at Entebbe Airport operations and also improve the safety and security of flight movement within the entire airspace of Uganda, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has embarked on Aerial photography and mapping survey in an area of 65 kilometers (approximately 13,280Km2) in the vicinity of Entebbe International Airport aimed at acquiring electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data (eTOD).
According to UCAA Public Affairs Manager, Vianney Luggya, the Aerial photography and mapping survey of Entebbe International Airport which will last for three months is being undertaken by Ramani Geosystems Limited based in Nairobi, Kenya and will cover 14 districts, including Islands and water areas.
“Four blocks of Uganda’s airspace will be specifically covered in Masaka, Gomba, Butambala, Mpigi, Wakiso, Kiboga, Nakaseke, Luwero, Kampala, Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga, Buvuma, and Kalagala Districts. The ongoing suspension of commercial passenger operations which has subsequently led to a reduction in the number of flights at Entebbe International Airport provides an opportunity to carry out the aerial survey with minimal disruption. Three people aboard the survey Aircraft will collect terrain and obstacle data for three to five hours daily according to the aerial survey plan that will be dependent on prevailing weather conditions,” confirmed Vianney Luggya.
“UCAA would like to assure the communities concerned and the general public not to be alarmed when they see a Cessna (C208B) aircraft hovering over the airspace,” added Luggya.
According to Vianney Luggya, the eTOD data to be obtained will among others facilitate the development of the following Airport and Air Navigation applications;
Setting up Etod and Aerodrome mapping databases necessary for the update of aeronautical charts and aeronautical publications required for Airport certification, update of onboard databases of flight management systems, Airport ground movement and control systems, and ground proximity warning systems, development of instrument flight procedures, determination of maximum take-off weights, determination of contingency procedures for use in the event of an emergency, Airport planning and land use studies and provision of geodetic control for engineering projects
