Airport must no longer be at mercy of weather

A PHASED opening of the new terminal at Cork Airport is imminent and it is only right that the occasion should be marked with some goodwill from all who care about this essential facility.

Still, the job there is only half done. Cork trails behind Dublin and Shannon in terms of infrastructure and it is urgent not to let the Government and politicians off the hook just because the new terminal will be operational shortly.

A critical part of the job remaining to be done is the installation of an instrument landing system that will allow arrivals in low visibility of less than 300m, bearing in mind Cork airport’s long record of bad weather.

On July 2 last a flight from Turkey opted to go straight to Dublin rather than try to land at Cork in low visibility. This flight was lucky and eventually departed Dublin again for Cork when the local weather improved. Down the years many thousands of Cork-bound passengers have not been so lucky.

The installation of a CAT III landing system would all but wipe out diversions from Cork.

Thomas Whelan

61 Fr Matthew Road

Turners Cross

Cork