Some would say it is a disgrace for any significant RPT Airport to operate without some type of precision approach.
Considering the rapidly increasing number of daily (and nightly) RPT operations, some might say that the chances of a major accident due to lack of a precision approach, will largely be function of statistical probability.
The proximity of high ground on final approach may not necessarily prohibit the installation of an ILS. Bali, for example, has an offset ILS localizer of about 2 degrees. Subic Bay has a large offset ILS only usable by FedeX.
Also, as mentioned above, Kai Tak Rwy 13 approach was 47 degrees off the runway centreline and CX used a minima 675’ directly into the checker board which was mounted on foothills rising to 2000’ odd.
Most of us would agree that visual approaches in appropriate conditions are very safe and would recommend such to maintain pilot handling skills. But after thousands of instrument approaches in RPT, and having to teach others the same has convinced me that non-precision instrument approaches rank as one of the few remaining great hazards to commercial aviation.
I just hope sanity prevails and Cooly gets the upgrade it deserves soonest so that the Gold Coast and Tweed customers get to fly with the appropriate level of safety that they should rightly expect…before it is too late.
In the meantime, we should congratulate the highly trained and professional crews operating into Cooly with such an outstanding safety record.