Major works to repair airside lighting at Port Hedland International Airport are progressing.
Mayor Kelly Howlett said that crews have been on site since the cable failure in February that destroyed the mains transformer.
“This is a massive undertaking. The repairs are extensive and complex and must meet stringent Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations,” she said.
“Obviously, safety is our number one priority and until the lighting is fixed, we are unable to allow take-off or landings on the main runway after last light. We anticipate that repairs will be completed and lighting restored in the coming month.”
The work program needed to get the lighting back up and running includes:
- 30,000 metres of trenching and laying of cable in conduit
- Installation of new runway light situation transformers in individual pits
- Installation of new runway edge lights, set at 60-metre intervals
- 6,000 metres of trenching and re-cabling of illuminated wind indicators (wind socks)
Airside lighting is still operational on the secondary runway, which can accept aircraft of less than 5,700 kilograms, allowing emergency medical services, such as the Royal Flying Doctors Service, to maintain night operations.
The airport has been working closely with airlines to minimise disruption to passengers. For information on flight schedules, please contact:
- Qantas: 13 13 13
- Virgin Australia: 13 67 89
- Skywest: 1300 660 088
- Airnorth: 1800 627 674