Ireland West Airport announces CAT II ILS, job losses

Ireland West Airport has announced that it has awarded contracts totalling €3.6m for the installation of CAT II ILS on Runway 27 and a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at the 09 end.

Construction and civil work has already commenced on the ILS works with electrical and equipment installation to commence at the end of October. The ILS installation is due for completion and commissioning in February 2009. When completed, the enhanced capability at Knock should see a big reduction in weather related diversions. The airport, at an elevation of 665 ft AMSL currently suffers from a disproportionate ( to it's total movements ) number of weather diversions. 

The RESA works will be completed by year end.

The current  developments which are being undertaken at the Airport are part of Ireland West Airport Knock’s Vision 2020; a €46 million capital investment programme which underpins the Airport’s goal of developing new short, medium and long haul international air routes and growing annual passenger numbers to over two million by 2020.

The news came in a week which also saw the management at Ireland West Airport announce that 14 workers at the airport would be made redundant as the winter operation requires less headcount than the summer 2008 staff level.