stickyb
28th Jan 2008, 08:21
"Visibility at night a problem, say pilots
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK - Bangkok Post
One-third of the lightbulbs at Suvarnabhumi airport are not working, causing visibility problems at night, and Airports of Thailand (AoT) has sought special procurement approval to improve lighting on the taxiways. AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said the airport is speeding up a process to acquire almost 2,000 more lightbulbs, which are expected to reach it as soon as next month.
He said the problem occurred before he took office and is related to the procurement, which is monopolised by one company. An amendment would be introduced to allow AoT to choose from other companies, he said.
The damaged lightbulbs account for one-third of the total system. International standards demand that damaged or dysfunctional lightbulbs should not exceed 10% of the total number, which is 7,600, an AoT source said.
Many of the lights, which are supposed to last for 1,000 hours, have expired while others were hit and broken by aircraft because, according to the source, the lights are larger than normal.
The problem started when the airport opened in September 2006.
In April last year, the number of damaged or expired lightbulbs was put at more than 700 and the airport asked for a budget for the replacements, which cost 70-80 million baht. But faced with a procurement problem as well as a budget cut, the number has escalated to almost 2,000, the source said.
The source said the AoT initially responded to the problem by taking lightbulbs from non-operational runways to replace the damaged or expired ones. Lights along the taxiways have also been switched on alternately. The source played down concerns over safety, saying each good lightbulb is within 60 metres of another, meeting international standards.
Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan acknowledged the problem. Mr Chaisak said the issue was raised during an Airports of Thailand board meeting when he was still a member. The delay in fixing the broken lights occurred because AoT placed an order for many lightbulbs at one time, he said.
Mr Chaisak said he had once suggested AoT change its buying method........"
Full article:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/28Jan2008_news01.php
Don't know id this is true or hype. Any comments?
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK - Bangkok Post
One-third of the lightbulbs at Suvarnabhumi airport are not working, causing visibility problems at night, and Airports of Thailand (AoT) has sought special procurement approval to improve lighting on the taxiways. AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said the airport is speeding up a process to acquire almost 2,000 more lightbulbs, which are expected to reach it as soon as next month.
He said the problem occurred before he took office and is related to the procurement, which is monopolised by one company. An amendment would be introduced to allow AoT to choose from other companies, he said.
The damaged lightbulbs account for one-third of the total system. International standards demand that damaged or dysfunctional lightbulbs should not exceed 10% of the total number, which is 7,600, an AoT source said.
Many of the lights, which are supposed to last for 1,000 hours, have expired while others were hit and broken by aircraft because, according to the source, the lights are larger than normal.
The problem started when the airport opened in September 2006.
In April last year, the number of damaged or expired lightbulbs was put at more than 700 and the airport asked for a budget for the replacements, which cost 70-80 million baht. But faced with a procurement problem as well as a budget cut, the number has escalated to almost 2,000, the source said.
The source said the AoT initially responded to the problem by taking lightbulbs from non-operational runways to replace the damaged or expired ones. Lights along the taxiways have also been switched on alternately. The source played down concerns over safety, saying each good lightbulb is within 60 metres of another, meeting international standards.
Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan acknowledged the problem. Mr Chaisak said the issue was raised during an Airports of Thailand board meeting when he was still a member. The delay in fixing the broken lights occurred because AoT placed an order for many lightbulbs at one time, he said.
Mr Chaisak said he had once suggested AoT change its buying method........"
Full article:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/28Jan2008_news01.php
Don't know id this is true or hype. Any comments?