Runway plans get P&R backing

Thursday 18 October 2018

Efforts to extend the landing area of Guernsey's runway, by using the safety ends to lengthen it, are being supported by the Policy and Resources Committee, which has said the idea is worth exploring.

In a public letter, P&R said Deputy Jan Kuttelwacher's idea has merit but that is has already been covered as part of a wider review of air links infrastructure so the Requete doesn't need official backing when it is discussed by the States next week.

Pictured: Deputy Kan Kuttelwascher. The long term supporter of lengthening the runway placed a Requete earlier this year, to try and direct the States' Trading Supervisory Board to look at using the areas for undershooting or overrunning on the current runways to extend the landing areas instead. 

Deputy Kuttelwascher's Requete calls for an investigation to find out if any safety enhancements would be required to enable the commissioning of 107 metres of the starter strip (paved RESA) or to mitigate the reduction in length of the RESA from 197 metres to 90 metres.

Previously he has called for the runway to be extended by 257 metres to 1,720 metres – very slightly longer than Jersey’s. With that proposal having never gained traction, Deputy Kuttelwasher instead asked the States to examine whether a slight increase in the safety area of the runway – in effect adding another 107 metres to it – would be feasible.

Deputy Kuttelwascher said this would allow Aurigny to operate a fully loaded Airbus A319 to and from the airport. 

 Pictured: Deputy Kuttelwascher's Requete, which is due for debate next week. 

With the requete due to be debated next week, Policy and Resources has commented - and given the idea some support.

Deputy Lyndon Trott has written on behalf of the States senior committee, saying P&R thinks "there is merit in exploring technical aspects and potential benefits of the proposal set out in the Requete; that this work should be undertaken alongside the evaluation of other options relating to air links infrastructure, so that the merits of the proposal can be looked at in the context of of the whole picture relating to that infrastructure; and that it should therefore be undertaken as part of the next phase of the Review, subject to the agreement of the States' Trading Supervisory Board and the States."

Deputy Trott said talks have already started with the Committee for Economic Development and the States Trading Supervisory Board, which have responsibility for air links, tourism, the airport and Aurigny.

P&R said both those committees should be allowed to give their views on the Requete, and Deputy Kuttelwascher's idea when the States discuss it, at next week's meeting. 

Pictured top: Guernsey Airport runway has been under the spotlight a number of times over the years, with another debate on its future likely to be held next week.