Potholes to be addressed at LPIA this summer

Potholes to be addressed at LPIA this summer
Aviation Minister, Dionisio D'Aguilar.

NAD to embark on “substantial” capital improvement project

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Following safety recommendations from the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) to address “numerous potholes” at the General Aviation Center of Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) that posed a potential threat to aircraft, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar said the Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company is set to undertake a “substantial” capital improvement project that will see potholes and other deficiencies at the airport resolved.

“In a very general sense in involves the recovering of a number of runways, a number of taxiways and obviously some of the ramps that have fallen into disrepair as well as creating a number of jet bridges,” he told Eyewitness News Online, when contacted for comment.

“So, yes we agree that there is the need for substantial capital projects down at LPIA and they are about to begin in earnest.

“You will see now that they have commenced the dismantling of the old terminal.

“That is currently underway, so that is the commencement of a number of capital projects, commencing in earnest during the summer with the resurfacing of one of the runways and taxiway.”

D’Aguilar noted that parking ramps were also being eyed for improvements.

The minister said said he will expound in depth during his contribution to the budget debate, slated to begin on Wednesday.

Last month, a Piper Aztec C6-TIM with two people on board collided into the ground at the Nassau International General Aviation Center at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) last month after the plane’s nose fell into a pothole, a report completed by the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) reveals.

The incident, classified as a ground collision accident, occurred around 10 a.m.

The report was completed on May 24, and released yesterday.

“The pot hole contact resulted in the nose gear collapsing, causing damage to the nose of the aircraft, both propellers and possibly both engines,” the report read.

No one was injured during the incident.

The AAID recommended that Odyssey Aviation, the operator of the General Aviation Center, correct the standing water condition as well as address the “numerous potholes” observed during the on-site investigation.

The report continued, “During the course of our investigation, note was taken of various sections of the ramp area at the General Aviation Center where potholes were present that posed a potential threat to maneuvering aircraft; especially during wet conditions in the aftermath of rain where these potholes are filled with standing water and are unable to be seen (as was the case in this accident).

“The AAID recommends that Odyssey Aviation takes measures to address the hazardous condition of the paved surfaces in the ramp area at the General Aviation Center.”

In the upcoming budget, the government has allocated $10.82 million in capital expenditure for airport infrastructure. It has budgeted for another $9.2 million in 2020/2021 and $10.5 million in 2021/2022.

 

 

 

 

 

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.