‘Instrument Landing System at CJIA working satisfactorily’ – Min. Edghill

(The $518 million Instrument Landing System – Stabroek News photo)

Following the diversion of an American Airlines flight to Trinidad on Sunday night, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has emphasized that the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) “is working satisfactorily.”

In an invited comment, the Minister told Big Smith News Watch that the Instrument is a Category 2 ILS which can only guide the aircraft to 200 feet above the runway after which the Pilot needs visual reference to land. However, when the aircraft arrived at the airport at approximately 22:30h on Sunday, the fog made it impossible to achieve visibility at the 200 feet height above the runway. As such, the aircraft was diverted to Trinidad.

“It was impossible for the Aircraft to land So in the interest of Safety the aircraft landed Piarco,” the minister said.

The $518M equipment was commissioned in September 2021 and was boasted as being capable of alleviating 90% of flight diversions due to low visibility.

Close to 200 passengers on the AA1513 flight were left stranded for hours since the flight landed in Trinidad at 23:17h but persons were not allowed to leave the aircraft. The flight subsequently landed at CJIA, Timehri after midnight. As a result of the delay, passengers slated to depart from Guyana on Monday morning via the same aircraft were also affected.

In a project that started in 2012, the airport was upgraded to accommodate larger aircraft. This led to the commencement of British Airways flights twice weekly in March this year.