Twelve Bermuda-based technical experts are helping install a new $2 million navigation system at the Airport.

The engineers from Serco Aviation, a UK firm which landed in Bermuda three years ago, have been subcontracted to aircraft giants Raytheon to work on the two-month project.

Airport managers revealed last week that planes were being steered onto a new landing path until April, so a state-of-the-art radio transmitter can be upgraded.

The VOR navigation system, which helps direct in-bound aircraft, had not been modified for more than 20 years.

And air traffic controllers are relying on radar and another radio transmitter to guide plans in from the east, over St. David's, instead of over Ferry Reach.

Serco's project manager Richard Savard told The Royal Gazette of the Bermudian involvement in the modifications.

He said: "It's marvellous to consider that the people doing this work are the employees of Serco Aviation, right here in Bermuda.

"A few years ago, that technical capability just didn't exist here but now it does.

"Our workers on the project are Bermudians and ex-pats training Bermudians.'' He said Serco had 12 ground electronic systems staff on the project, including two full-time workers.

A senior technical expert from New Jersey-based Raytheon is already in Bermuda after winning a contract from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Airport chiefs said the VOR equipment, which stands for VHF Omni-directional Range, had to be improved to bring Bermuda up-to-date with international standards.

Lester Nelson, Manager of Air Operations, said: "This is one of three navigation systems that we have but it is the primary tool we use, transmitting signals from the ground to the cockpit.

"We have had a two-year plan to improve the equipment and the work should be completed by the beginning of April.

"There are essentially a lot of electronics and computers which need to be replaced.

"During that time, we will be using the airport's radar control for primary navigation and we also have a radio-based system on the east side of the airport so most planes will land by approaching over St. David's.

"That is an instrument landing system for runway approach and that will help guide planes down.

"It is just as precise, it's just that we will have fewer navigation systems to work with for the time being.''