KIA flights disrupted for three hours due to lighting system failure
Planes failed to land and take off for three hours at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday, October 4, due to a failure of the lighting system.
The airport’s managing director, Christina Mwakatobe, said that the error occurred between 12am and 3am, but normal service was later on restored. She attributed the failure to the ongoing major repair project of the lighting system being conducted by Spanish company GEGI.
“The fault lasted for about three hours, this fault is due to the ongoing project which involves a major repair of the lights system here at the airport,” she said.
“KADCO management apologizes to all passengers who were affected in one way or another due to the issue, all customers who were affected by the challenge, various procedures were carried out to ensure that they completed their journeys.”
Airport runway lighting systems are essential for the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft. They provide visual guidance to pilots, especially in low-light or adverse weather conditions. The lighting systems typically include runway edge lights, centerline lights, threshold lights, end lights, and approach lights.
Runway edge lights help pilots to define the lateral edges of the runway. Centerline lights help pilots to stay aligned with the center of the runway. Threshold lights mark the beginning of the runway. End lights mark the end of the runway. Approach lights provide guidance to pilots as they approach the runway.
The failure of the lighting system at KIA is a reminder of the importance of these systems for the safe operation of airports. Even a brief disruption to the lighting system can have a significant impact on flights, as evidenced by the three-hour delay at KIA.
It is important to note that the lighting system failure at KIA was caused by a major repair project that is underway.
This project is necessary to ensure that the lighting system is reliable and meets the needs of the airport. However, it is also important to minimize the disruption to flights during such projects.
