Originally Posted by
RVF750
When the Extension was done, the GP antenna was moved to the other side and relocated 60m closer to the sea. This was against the strong advice of all of the Island Operators present at an operations meeting held prior to this. The result was the minima was raised from 750m to 1000m as they effectively lost a line of approach lights to the threshold lighting.
Again, Auto landing aircraft must add to their landing distance usually 300m or so. Once you do that the runway length becomes marginal. CAT 2 approaches will never work when you are over the sea at 100ft. For a Cat 3 you'd be at 50ft and over the undershoot tarmac.
The only way that Ronaldsway would achieve all weather capability is to extend over the road. That isn't going to happen. it was shown many times to the airport director that the embedded lighting was poor compared to the previous gantry system, but she never really seemed to get it or care. So we have what we have. An airport where hardly anything actually works, be it car park barriers, radar, doors, escalator, cafe, you name it. There are a few fundamental things need sorting before they even look at improving aircraft's chances of getting in on foggy days.
Is this all understood over there ? Sounds like a big step backwards so there must have been reasons ?