Work starts on new Instrument Landing System

Work to replace one of Jersey Airport’s Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) starts today (Wednesday 22 March). The ILS for runway 26, which serves planes arriving from the east of the Island, is reaching the end of its useful life and a replacement system has been commissioned.

The ILS is an airport approach navigation aid which helps pilots land their aircraft safely by transmitting guidance signals on their approach to the runway. The systems are designed to last 12-15 years and the current system has been in place for 19 years.

Head of Air Navigation Services, Paul Strudwick, said: “The replacement of the 26 ILS will ensure that we can continue to offer a reliable ground-based navigation service for several more years. The new system will provide guidance to aircraft in poor visibility in the same way as the current equipment.

“While the work is underway and when the wind does not allow the use of runway 08, pilots will land using primarily visual or LPV 200 Satellite based approaches.”

The work will start by taking the existing 26 ILS Glide Path (GP) and Localiser out of service. The equipment will then be dismantled. The new antenna will be installed early next month and the commissioning of the new elements of the system will start at the beginning of May. The new system should be in service by the end of May.

The ILS for runway 08, serving planes arriving from the west, is not yet due to be replaced. Some of the spares from the system that is being replaced will be kept for use on this ILS until it is due for updating or is superseded by newer technology.