The Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) plays a pivotal role in ensuring aviation safety and compliance with international standards across Nigeria’s aerodromes and airspace. Its mandate encompasses regulatory oversight, certification, and continuous monitoring to align national operations with ICAO SARPs and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).
DAAS is structured into distinct departments, each focusing on specific functional areas:
- Aerodrome Safety Standards (ARD SAFETY STDS): Oversees airport rescue and firefighting, aerodrome operations, bird and wildlife management, ground handling, and terminal safety.
- Aerodrome Standards (ARD STDS): Handles the development, certification, and approval of aerodromes, heliports, and airstrips.
- Air Traffic Management / Search and Rescue (ATM/SAR): Ensures safety in air traffic services, PANS-OPS procedures, and search‑and‑rescue operations.
- CNS, Meteorology and AIS/Charts (CMA): Manages aeronautical meteorology, information services, telecommunication, and charts.
-Surveillance and Training (S&T): Coordinates surveillance activities, training standards, and related initiatives.
In addition to these departments, two specialized units report directly to the Director: The Obstruction/Aviation Height Clearance Unit (OBS/AHC) and the Special Duties Unit, which address height clearance and other bespoke functions, respectively.
Regionally, DAAS operates through six Regional Offices, each headed by a Head of Department (HOD) covering Abuja, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. These regional structures extend the directorate’s reach, ensuring localized implementation of safety standards and regulatory compliance.
This organizational framework underscores DAAS’s comprehensive approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, promoting regulatory compliance, and fostering continuous improvement in aerodrome and airspace safety.
DEPARTMENTS/UNITS
1. AERODROME SAFETY STANDARDS (ARD SAFETY STDS)
2. AERODROME STANDARDS (ARD STDS)
3. AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT/SEARCH AND RESCUE (ATM/SAR)
4. CNS, METEOROLOGY AND AIS/CHARTS (CMA)
5. SURVEILLANCE AND TRAINING (S&T)
6. OBSTRUCTION/AVIATION HEIGHT CLEARANCE UNIT (OBS/AHC)
7. SPECIAL DUTIES
REGIONAL OFFICES
Note: At the regional level, the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards is headed by Heads of Department as listed below:
I. HOD DAAS ABUJA REGION
II. HOD DAAS ENUGU REGION
III. HOD DAAS KADUNA REGION
IV. HOD DAAS KANO REGION
V. HOD DAAS LAGOS REGION
VI. HOD DAAS PORTHARCOURT REGION