Project Expected To Cause Passengers Delays

May 8, 2013

The L.F. Wade International Airport is currently undergoing extensive airfield upgrades that involve the addition of high visibility and energy-efficient runway center-line lighting; improved signage; and in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] – the installation of an enhanced radar surveillance system that will extend Bermuda’s radar coverage from 360 miles to 440 miles.

This increased coverage will help FAA New York-based Air Traffic Controllers enhance their management of air traffic out over the busy North Atlantic.

While most of these improvements will be carried out at night, the on-going work required to install the new radar unit will be taking place throughout the day.

The Ministry said that “after departing from the gate, passengers may experience a delay on the ground prior to take-off as standard, non-radar procedures that call for a greater-than-usual time separation between arriving and departing flights is in effect. It is hoped that these delays can be minimized so that this time can be made up in-flight to ensure an on-time arrival to one’s destination whenever possible.

“Work on the new radar installation which has already commenced, is expected to be completed by mid-July. Work on the runway will take place during night time hours and will run throughout the summer. To facilitate the runway phase of the Airfield Enhancement project, the Airport will close nightly at 10:00 pm and reopen at 6:30 am daily.

An Airport Operations spokesperson said: “On behalf of the FAA and the L.F. Wade International Airport, we apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we work to ensure the safety of the traveling public by continuing the enhancement of our airfield infrastructure.”

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Comments (7)

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  1. Micro says:

    How long does it take to install a new radar? Been a couple months now.

  2. Center line lighting is used for landing in dense fog conditions. Waste of OUR cash.

  3. Time Shall Tell says:

    This is like a long running joke that is starting to get stale.

  4. Nuffin but da Truth says:

    The Radar has been out for approx 6 months and is not a source of amusement for the Pilots and Controllers that have to use the airspace around Bermuda.

    • blankman says:

      Not exactly a source of amusement for the passengers either. Last time I flew out we actually pushed back on time, taxied out on the field at which point the pilot shut off the engines and we sat there for an hour and a half before we were allowed to take off.

      Common sense said that “they” knew this was going to happen before we boarded but the powers that be still had us sit on a plane for an hour and a half. Great work on their part.

      • Dee says:

        Blankman

        By pushing back on time and even if you sat on the runway for an hour and a half, the airline can then say this was a flight that ‘left on time’ and use this fact in their statistics. We encountered this once on a BA flight when we pushed back on time then taxied to another area of the airport where the pilot killed the engine and informed us that there was a problem with the toilet and they would have to get a mechanic on board to fix it. An hour + later we finally taxied to the runway, but in their books this is an ‘on time flight’!

        Our next flight is 24th May to Miami where we have a very tight connection, hopefully the delay due to the radar will not be too long.

        • Booyah says:

          Luckily Miami aa is the first flight that leaves so you wouldn’t get any delays..

          But I do agree that this radar is a big inconvience especially since more flights are starting next week so that’ll mean a longer wait!

          All that time they put in to paint the airport could have went towards the radar ijs