Plans to beat the fog unveiled by Jersey Airport

Wednesday 15 June 2016

A feasibility study will be held within the next two to three years into improving Jersey Airport’s fog misery.

On Sunday, several flights were delayed or cancelled as fog descended on the airport - just the latest occasion when the elements have resulted in travel chaos.

But Jersey Airport bosses are to pay “tens of thousands of pounds” in the next couple of years in a bid to improve the island’s travel record.

Senior Air Traffic Controller Les Smallwood said the feasibility study will look into where improvements can be made - in the hope that in the long run it will save the airport millions of pounds - and also end the travel disruption for thousands of holidaymakers and businesses.       

Mr Smallwood said: “As an island airport we suffer more than most because we are 300ft above sea level. Plus, Jersey is unique in that we often get fog accompanied by 30mph winds, a meteorological phenomena which does not occur on the mainland. 

“Pilots can only land when they can see the runway from 200ft. Any lower than that and they cannot land. 

“The feasibility study, which we will hold within the next two to three years, will look into ways we can lower the requirement, in terms of feet, where planes can land in fog. 

“Systems are available now which use satellite technology and these will no doubt be improved over the next few years. But there is no point in the airport spending millions on this technology without a feasibility study, which will only cost tens of thousands of pounds. 

“Our ultimate aim is to improve the days and hours lost to fog for the public, while at all times keeping their safety as the ultimate factor.” 

Senator Philip Ozouf told last week’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce that new digital technology will end the misery of missed flights, although Mr Smallwood said any solution is still many years away as Jersey remains a ‘Cap One' category airport, the lowest of the three categories in the industry for landing in fog. That is because of the terrain and location of the airport, not under-investment.  

Senator Ozouf said: “Ministers are not responsible for fog, although some would say that sometimes they are. 

“With regard to the fog issue, technology is going to provide a solution to that. I have been told there is a jet that is on our register in Jersey that has a lower category for landing limits. That means lower landing in fog can be reduced in time because of GPS positioning. That means we won’t have to spend £4 billion like they did in Madeira when they built a new runway.  

“I have been briefed by a very senior pilot at the airport and I asked him what can digital technology do for fog. Effectively, digital positioning can help. That is an opportunity for Jersey to use GPS positioning to get planes landing in lower fog, without having to go to the treasury minister and asking if we can have an extra £4b to extend the runway. GPS is the solution and it means innovative digital technology can solve a problem more cheaply, more efficiently and more safely.”

Mr Smallwood said: “Satellite technology is certainly improving all the time and ultimately we are hoping improvements can be made so that airport users see the benefits.”