Flight delay on damaged Ian Fleming taxiway
Published:Friday | January 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Shoddy workmanship is being blamed for an incident in which an aircraft was delayed because of a sunken section of the taxiway at the new J$398-million Ian Fleming International Airport in St Mary.
Aviation experts who spoke with The Gleaner on condition of anonymity said the paving of the taxiway needed to have been compacted to ensure the foundation was good and requirements were met.
"If this was done, that would not have happened," one expert said.
The Airports Authority of Jamaica's (AAJ) marketing and corporate communications manager, Grace Morrison, said the section of taxiway was not compact enough, "And rain, lots of rain actually compromised the rigidity of the area."
Neither rain nor snow should have the ability to compromise the integrity of any approved taxiway, research into the international standards indicate.
According to a release from the AAJ, approximately 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, a Cessna Citation XL arrived at the Ian Fleming International Airport from Maryland in the United States.
Tyres settled in pavement
On preparing for departure approximately 3:55 p.m., while on the taxiway and approaching the intersection with the runway, one of the tyres settled a few inches into the pavement near an inset light. The pilot then brought the aircraft to a halt.
The Airport Protection Services responded immediately and the aircraft was successfully removed approximately 5:15 p.m. to a parking position on the ramp, the AAJ said. There being no apparent damage to the aircraft, the pilot later taxied to the designated runway end for take-off. However, on instructions from the owners of the aircraft, departure was delayed to facilitate further detailed inspection by the aircraft's authorised mechanic.
The AAJ said inspections confirmed there had been no damage to the aircraft.
The aircraft was the second to land at the airport which was officially opened by Prime Minister Bruce Golding two weeks ago.
Named after Ian Fleming, the author who made fictional British spy James Bond famous, the authorities have come under heavy fire from citizens in the parish who continue to object to the name chosen for the airport.