Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
A May 7, 2005 file photo showing the eastern concourse of the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, under construction. Officially opened on December 16 by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the 17,000-square-foot structure was built at a cost of US$45 million (J$2.88 billion). Air traffic controllers at the airport have complained that the concourse blocks their view of incoming aircraft. - CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
LESS THAN two weeks after the official opening of the eastern concourse at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, air traffic controllers have expressed concern about the diminished visibility of aircraft operating in that section of the airport.
"The core responsibility of air traffic controllers is to prevent collision between aircraft in the air, and on the ground with other aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring area," said Howard Greaves, president of the Air Traffic Controllers Association.
"What has happened is that when an aircraft is parked on the new wing, a controller cannot see that aircraft in its entirety nor can it see any vehicle or personnel that might be operating in close proximity."
According to Mr. Greaves, this creates a serious problem, as the controllers cannot give "positive clearance" to pilots requesting permission to start their engines.
Noting the air traffic controllers' concerns, Curtis Grad, vice-president of operations at MBJ Airport Ltd., said these problems are not unusual in large airports.
"We have had ongoing dialogue with the entire tower management in Montego Bay and Kingston," he said. "We have been addressing issues as they come up, I would not characterise it as problematic. Situations like these are not unusual for large airports and are often overcome with procedures and technology."
MEASURE INADEQUATE
Mr. Greaves acknowledged that MBJ Airports Limited had formulated a safety procedure to address their initial concerns, but insists that the measures are inadequate.
He said, "What we do (now) is provide taxi clearance to a specific point and then from there a vehicle will escort the aircraft to its parking gate. Similarly, when an aircraft needs to taxi off from that location it is escorted from that point to where the air traffic controller can see it clearly before it can get positive clearance. However, it is not happening with the regularity that it ought to as sometimes the vehicle is not available."
Mr. Greaves further contended that the construction of a new airport tower would be the only way to avert possible disasters. But this suggestion was dismissed by Mr. Grad who noted that the construction of a new tower "is not a part of our original work and would have to be a government of Jamaica decision".
The new eastern concourse features 12 boarding gates, 13 commercial outlets and a spacious waiting area constructed at a cost of J$2.88 billion.
Responding last night, Transport and Works Minister Robert Pickersgill said that the Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are aware of the situation at the airport. He said the CAA had been in dialogue with the air traffic controllers.
According to Mr. Pickersgill, the CAA has issued interim operating procedures to the controllers to address the immediate operational concerns. These procedures involve all parties - the pilots, ground handlers, concessionaires and the controllers to ensure safe operations.
The Minister said the requirement for a new control tower at the airport is being addressed and the CAA has made budgetary provision for that project.
