It quoted the president of the Air Traffic Controllers Association, Ann Marie Plaza-Hosein, as saying that almost on a daily and nightly basis pilots complain to air traffic controllers at the two airports about the poor visibility of the runways.
Plaza-Hosein is a senior air traffic controller. She said the problems have persisted despite requests to the Airports Authority to deal with them.
“From the operational point of view, there are several problems with the operation of the lighting. We often do not have direct control of (the runway lighting)...and therefore we cannot provide the specific requirements of the pilots who at times request we change the intensity, depending on weather conditions," she told Newsday.
She added that sometimes when an aircraft is on short final approach the tower is helpless to deal with requests from pilots to change the intensity of the lights. "We have been experiencing this problem for a long, long time now,” she told the paper, explaining that sometimes the lights are too dim or too bright "and we are not able to do anything quickly and it makes landing difficult for the pilots.”
Plaza-Hosein said an upgrade to the lighting system at both runways is an urgent need in the interest of safety and should be done as quickly as possible.
The paper said it also spoke with a Caribbean Airlines pilot, who asked to remain anonymous, who confirmed that pilots are greatly stressed when making landings at the airports.
“The situation at the two runways is critical, and pilots experience extreme distress when landing.
"If the situation continues to exist pilots will have no choice but to make representation to not only Government, but to the bodies which could instruct the Airports Authority to have the problem rectified immediately,” the paper quoted the pilot as saying.
It said the pilot stated that the poor lighting makes conditions even worse in poor weather, especially at Crown Point.
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner approved two contracts worth $83 million for the upgrade of the approach lighting systems at Piarco and Crown Point airports in the absence of a board of the Airports Authority.
He acted on the advice of the senior management of the Airports Authority because of the critical nature of the works to be done. However, he has now decided to re tender the contracts after the Prime Minister asked for a review. he said took that action in the interest of transparency.
Read the story: Warner approved Airports contract in accordance with rules, will have project re-tendered
Director General of the TT Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Ramesh Lutchmedial told JYOTI earlier in the week that Warner had acted within his jurisdiction and that he acted legally when he signed off on the contract.
Lutchmedial said the CAA inspected both runways three months ago and determined that it was necessary to have the lighting systems changed with immediate effect.
He told JYOTI the system is old and obsolete and poses a clear and present danger to aircraft. He said he was a member of the former board that handled the tendering process and that everything was done above board.
Read the story: Civil Aviation Director confirms airport lights necessary, contracts above board
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