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Aircraft radar equipment out of action: Civil flights could be affected
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Radar equipment at the top of the Rock, which provides air traffic control, is undergloing maintenance, which could affect civil aircraft in certain weather conditions.
An RAF statement explains that aircraft wishing to fly into and out of Gibraltar are given guidance by Gibraltar?s Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) utilising radar. To ensure that flights operate to the highest air safety standards, radar equipment situated at Rock Gun will have to undergo a major service during the latter part of this week and will be out of action for about four days commencing yesterday.
Gibraltar ATC have been in touch with the senior pilots of the two airlines using Gibraltar to devise special procedures to enable continued operation during this servicing period but in the event of significant low cloud or poor visibility, aircraft may have to divert to Malaga to ensure safe operation.
RAF Gibraltar says it regrets this possible inconvenience but it is vital that the highest standards of flight safety are maintained for flights into and out of Gibraltar. The work is expected to be complete by Sunday 18th September.
MILITARY
Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in military flights into and out of Gibraltar over the last weekend and early this week. Most have involved Hercules C130 transport planes, which have been moving members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and their equipment to Morocco for Exercise Jebel Sahara.
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