CAT III ILS

[andyh]

I notice that Flight Precision King Air G-FPLB is undertaking extensive testing of the Rwy 27 ILS this morning. Would it be correct to assume that should the testing prove successful the runway will finally be ready for CAT III certification, or am I adding 2 + 2 and making 5?

Any of our ATC colleagues able to shed any light?

[markmai]

Don't know if it means anything, but a couple of days ago or so, a man in a cherry picker was working on the aerial/LPL mast near Polar Ford in Runcorn.

Mark

[tonyspeke]

Pilots have been flying practice CATIII approaches recently.

When will the fog come for our first proper CATIII landing?

[bartt]

Have they???
But it's not been installed yet!!

[dalten1]

The equipment has been installed but the integrity and reliability has to be verified over a period of time. Pilots can practice almost anything they like but have to be advised of any facility deficiencies, like the localiser sensitive area not being protected.
I have seen some notams which indicate the ILS may notoperate to Cat III limits before June at the earliest.
This could be pure conjecture .

[andyh]

The plot thickens slightly. We now have no ILS capacity on Rwy 27 until 20th May - and ATC was heard yesterday advising an inbound aircraft that this was due to work on installing CAT III ILS equipment...

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2009 14:08:19 GMT 1 dalten1 said:

Pilots can practice almost anything they like but have to be advised of any facility deficiencies, like the localiser sensitive area not being protected.
/quote]

I disagree, a pilot could not practise a VOR/DME procedure even if they were informed there was actually no VOR available.

[dalten1]

Hi olbanjoplayer,

I will not get involved in wars of words, but my post included words to this effect:

Pilots are to be advised of any equipment deficiencies.

So, I think the lack of a VOR would count as an equipment deficiency.

Liverpool has fallen behind many (regional) airports over recent years, despite the increase in traffic, from the heady days of the 70's, when LPL was only the second airport in the country to have Cat II capability, after Heathrow.

It has something to do with the airport operating on a shoestring,
like most of its operators, and the recession isn't helping.

I am not a politician, so I say as I see, not tiptoeing around the facts, so as not to upset anybody.

I have just retired from working at the busiest single-runway International airport in the world, and that was a long way from perfect.

That is the end of yet another grumpy old man rant

[calflier]

Whats wrong with naming it then! Gatwick,so have you got your bid in to buy it,as the bidding closed today.

[dalten1]

From your reply, I didn't need to.

I know I digressed, so can we all return to the topic of the Cat III ILS

[Beemer]

Will the ILS be back up and working to-morrow as the 20th of May was mentioned as completion date? Thanking you, Beemer.

[northbynorthwest]

Any news on when the ILS will be finally up and running with CAT III capability? I keep looking at the notams and the notam regarding CAT I only keeps being renewed. Whatcis the hold up? Will soon be needing greater than CAT I minimums for approaches.

[andyh]

ILS is back up to CAT II now. No signs yet of the next step to CAT III though I overheard a comment in the last week that some of the new stop bars on the Alpha taxiway aren't yet in the control of the tower (which ties in with the current NOTAMs). Hopefully it won't be much longer?

[bartt]

No, it's still Cat I only until at least the end of September.

[andyh]

Bartt, I've checked the NOTAMs (again) this morning. There is no mention of the ILS being downgraded to CAT I only at this time.