Is George Best safer???
Appeal for probe into emergency closure of airport
Monday, May 28, 2007
By Brendan McDaid and William Allen
All circumstances leading to the shutdown of City of Derry airport must be investigated, a former committee chairman has said.
As talks resumed to resolve the crisis at the airport, ex-chairman of the airport committee, William Hay, said that while the first priority was reopening, questions would follow about why the Civil Aviation Authority withdrew the license on Friday.
A meeting was due to take place this afternoon, 24 hours after the CAA undertook a site and safety review.
Derry City Council, which owns the Eglinton airport, today maintained that the CAA was "reassured" by its commitment to resolving the safety issues.
The CAA shut the airport on Friday after an inspection raised concerns over runway drainage, an inadequate aircraft parking area, its bird plan and lighting.
In January, a report noted complaints about the airport's lighting system after an Eirjet cock-up when a plane landed at nearby Ballykelly Army base by mistake. The report into the Ballykelly incident was carried out by the Government's Air Accident Investigations branch.
While the lighting system was not to blame, the report noted: "Pilots are reported to have commented that Runway 26 at Londonderry is very difficult to see from a distance, as the approach lights apparently do not stand out on a bright day."
Mr Hay said: "The ratepayers, and those passengers affected by all this need a full explanation of how we ended up at this point."
Mr Hay added: "As soon as the safety issues are sorted to the satisfaction of the CAA, we need to take a step back and find out the whole story. We, as councillors, need to ask hard questions," Mr Hay added.
A list of remedial action has now been drawn up after yesterday's inspection, along with a full audit of the aerodrome. Contractors were drafted in over the bank holiday weekend to carry out improvements to the bird management system.
Remedial repairs at the parking area and minor drainage work adjacent to the runway was completed. A council spokeswoman said a review of safety was " in progress".
She said: "Monday will provide an updated position from the CAA and their view on the safety provision.
"While we apologise for the uncertainty to airlines and passengers, safety remains our number one priority. Council remains optimistic that business can resume as soon as possible".
Information telephone lines have been set-up; they are 028 7130 5544 and 028 7181 0784.
(BELFAST TELEGRAPH 28//5//2007)