the final phase of runway resurfacing work is carried out.

The $1.1 million job is expected to take two-and-a-half to three months to complete with air traffic being banned daily from 8.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m.

But Air Operations Manager Lester Nelson said every effort had been made to avoid a repeat of the problems caused during a medical emergency last year.

In March, 1999, a Medevac plane was kept waiting because of runway work when it arrived to ferry a brain surgery patient to Massachusetts.

Mr. Nelson said: "Because of that we have made sure the Executive Director and section heads at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital know what's going on.

"If a critical patient has to be flown out they can advise us directly so we can have time to prepare the runway.

And he added: "Most of those aircraft are smaller aircraft and we could make room at the other end of the runway not being worked on.'' Mr. Nelson said the night ban should not be much of a hitch for travellers.

He said: "No scheduled airline is affected. American Airlines, Delta and British Airways fly close to the cut off point but as long as they maintain a good schedule there should be no problem.

"Sometimes we get private or military planes but we have advised the aviation community worldwide about our plans.'' There will be no work on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mr. Nelson explained why it had taken three years to complete the runway renovation.

"It's such a long runway -- it's about two miles long. We did the first phase two years ago and the second phase last year.'' "We've already begun the preparation work, but it will start in earnest next Sunday.''