The report says failure to do the work puts the safety and reliability of aviation in Trinidad and Tobago at risk. It also notes that the airfield lighting systems at both airports failed on numerous occasions. Such failure, it says, could have endangered lives and aircraft.
The report confirms what Jyoti reported on Monday.
The director General of Civil Aviation told us that the upgrade to the system is urgently needed. Ramesh Lutchmedial said the lights could fail during a landing. He also stated that Trinidad and Tobago has an obligation to ensure that all its systems at both airports are up to standards established by the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).
Lutchmedial also said the Works and transport Minister acted legally with respect to the award of contracts worth $83 million to carry out works on the lighting systems.
Read the story: Civil Aviation Director confirms airport lights necessary, contracts above board
The report gives details of what it calls "obsolete technology" at the airports, noting that recent failures of the system caused airport officials to shut down the Crown Point the airport for several hours at peak periods.
It cites several examples to point out the need for an upgraded system, including problems this year with the runway edge lights at Piarco, which were operating at half its normal effectiveness due to a failed circuit that persisted for hours. It also notes that in August flooding caused circuit failure for many days.
“During the period August 15th to 17th the approach lights on the runway operated at 67 percent serviceability. In this instance, the circuit failed and due to inclement weather and flooding, personnel could not access the area to troubleshoot. From August 17th to 28th 2010, a similar situation existed,” the report says.
“At Crown Point on the 14th August 2009 and on 17th September 2010 there was a malfunction of both runway light circuits due to burnt out underground wires.
"This resulted in the first instance of additional delays for Caribbean Airlines flights. Other malfunctions occurred on the 15th January 2010, the 17th March 2010 and the 2nd of February, 2010. On the 15th of January, four Caribbean Airline flights were affected and this resulted in a 30- minute total delay,” it adds.
The report also states that the approach lighting system must be upgraded in keeping with ICAO and FAA regulations, noting that it is a mandatory requirement since the approach lighting system provides the transition from instrument flight to visual flight for landing of aircraft.
"The approach lighting system must be upgraded to meet the new requirements of the ICAO which came into effect in 2009...The scope of services required by this project is mandatory to meet ICAO and FAA requirements and to contribute to the safety and reliability of aviation in Trinidad and Tobago,” the report says.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has asked for a review of the contracts and Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner has ordered that they be re tendered although he has said he did nothing wrong or illegal.
As line minister responsible for the airports he authorised the awards of the contract on the recommendation of senior management, acting on the constitutional authority he has in the absence of a board.
Read the story: Warner approved Airports contract in accordance with rules, will have project re-tendered
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