Airport runway must undergo $4.5m alterations
Alterations to the tune of $4.5 million are planned for Bermuda's airport.The eight-month project is to begin this year, as much of the Ferry Reach skyline now presents obstacles to aircraft under tighter global regulations.Explained LF Wade International Airport general manager Aaron Adderley: “Objects now defined as obstacles include the hilltops, trees and houses in the approach zone.” The rules are set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).As a result, planes descending to the 9,753ft strip technically known as Runway 1-2 will have to make a slightly steeper approach to allow sufficient clearance and the markings and lights on it will have to be moved 587ft forward.Florida-based HR Pruitt has been hired for the job, but Mr Adderley said local companies should pick up significant business from the project, which will require the old markings to be scrubbed off and new paint and asphalt to be laid down.The entire runway was last resurfaced in 2003, although part of the runway's 1-2 portion got repainted in 2007 along with the “apron”, where aircraft park.The project is known technically as visual slope segment penetration, or VSSP.Explained Mr Adderley: “One of those alphabet soup acronyms within aviation.”He continued: “In addition to moving the runway marking, we also have to relocate the edge lights. We will add central lane lighting, which right now we don't have, that will also enable aircraft to land here in Bermuda when the visibility is low, for example if there's a thunderstorm cell overhead. With this additional lighting, we can accommodate aircraft in more inclement weather conditions.”Precision approach procedure indicators, which give pilots guidance on their vertical approach, will also have to be moved.Mr Adderley said Bermuda's airport faces special challenges in the tight space that it occupies. Under the Bermuda Plan, any East End development application must go before the Department of Airport Operations as well as Planning, to ensure no obstacles are presented.“Even though this project requires overseas expertise, there is a significant opportunity for local companies to participate,” Mr Adderley said, adding: “I'm happy to say that this particular company has a record of completing projects on time and under budget.”Airport engineering manager Wendell Burchall said the work will take place between 10pm and 6am to avoid disrupting air travel.About 52 personnel will be required for the task, although numbers out on the runway will vary as the job progresses.l Useful website: www.icao.intEditor's Note: Mr Adderley clarified on Thursday that the project will cost $4.5 million, not $4.6 million as previously stated by Government and this story has been changed to reflect that.
LF Wade International Airport has a single active runway, known as 1-2-3-0.Runway 1-2, the portion where aircraft come in over Ferry Reach, has the same amount of asphalt surfacing as 100km of Bermuda's twin-lane roads.There are also 100km of markings on the 150ft by 9,753ft runway, which is about to undergo changes under new international regulations.LF Wade's runway was last resurfaced in 2003. The runway itself dates back to the 1940s, when it was laid down by US forces.Bermuda's runways are still laid out in the 'A' shape characteristic of military facilities, but only the main strip is in use.That leaves the “finger” for fire department exercises, the parking of military aircraft — and future developments such as a proposed solar energy plant.A third strip is known as Taxi Way Bravo, which connects the runway to the “apron” in front of the airport buildings.In order to give adequate clearance for aircraft landing over Ferry Reach, their angle of approach is to be adjusted by two-tenths of a degree — enough for the “threshold” and other landing markings to be moved forward more than 500ft.The alterations, which are required of Bermuda under international standards, will have no effect on take-offs.April 2013 has been set as the final deadline for the project to start, but work is set to begin before the end of this year.
