Runway Strengthening Begins at Kirkwall Airport

Work has started on strengthening and resurfacing areas of the 09/27 runway at Kirkwall airport as part of Highlands and Islands Airports’ rolling maintenance programme.

The project, valued in excess of £1 million, will involve strengthening approximately 450 metres at the runway’s 27 threshold to bring it into line with the bearing rating of the rest of the runway and rehabilitation of the cross-runway junction.

The work, scheduled to last six weeks, will result in enhanced operational capacity for aircraft using the runway.

Burks Green of Newark will act as structural; engineers and project managers while Lafarge Aggregates will undertake the work on site.

Tommy Tullock, Kirkwall station manager said: “We are working closely with the project managers and contractor to ensure noise and disruption are minimised. The work will be carried out at night and will not interfere with air traffic movements or the operation of the airport’s recently activated instrument landing system. An out of hours

air ambulance facility will be retained during the works.”

Ends (01.09.04)

For further information please contact Nathaniel Anderson, HIAL PR Manager, on 01667 462445 or 07795 666115.

Notes to Editors:

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited manages and operates 10 airports in the North and West of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The airports range from the principal hubs at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh to those at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree and Wick.

The company is responsible for providing airport infrastructure, facilitating lifeline air links, developing air traffic in the region and supporting economic sustainability and social inclusion in Scotland’s remoter communities.

In the year ending 31 March 2004 the 10 airports handled 934,000 passengers and more than 81,000 aircraft movements. Passenger numbers ranged from 5,600 at Tiree to 484,000 at Inverness.

For further information see the www.hial.co.uk website.