Tailwind problem affecting night landing – LIAT

Regional airline Liat has been explaining the real reason for its reluctance to fully embrace night landing at Dominica’s Melville Hall airport.

In a letter to Dominica News Online in response to recent comments from Tourism Mininster Ian Douglas on the matter, Liat’s Manager for Corporate Communications Desmond Brown said “all of Liat’s aircraft have night landing capability for Dominica and the majority of captains have been checked for night landing”.

The Liat spokesman also indicated that the navigation instrument system installed at Dominica is common throughout the airports in Liat’s network and that no additional training is required.

“The real issue is that Dominica has a tailwind limitation of 10 knots for night landings beyond which aircraft are not permitted to operate into that airport no matter its size or type,” Brown said in his letter to DNO.

He indicated that Liat had, after careful consideration by the Company’s Flight Operations Department, supported by a risk assessment, applied to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority for this limitation to be increased and was awaiting a formal response.

Tourism Minister Douglas at a news conference last Friday in seeking to explain the Liat night landing situation, said he couldn’t fully recall the reasons given by the airline, but seemed to remember officials suggesting that Liat has limited planes with night landing capability, and that some of its pilots have to undergo training to use some of the equipment involved.

The minister said at the time that while there were some Liat flights undertaking night landing, he would like to see the airline making much more use of that facility.

THE LIAT LETTER IS REPRODUCED HERE FOR THE BENEFIT OF DNO READERS:

28th February 2012

Dear Editor:

This letter is in reply to an article, dated February 24, 2012, appearing on Dominica News Online which contained inaccuracies.

In particular, I would like to address the portion of the article which stated that: “The tourism minister said LIAT has explained that it has limited planes with night landing capability, and that some of its pilots have to undergo training to use the navigational instruments involved.”

The following response is being made:

All of LIAT’s aircraft have night landing capability for Dominica and the majority of captains have been night checked into Dominica.

The navigation instrument system installed at Dominica is common throughout the airports in LIAT’s network therefore no training is required.

The real issue is that Dominica has a tailwind limitation of 10 knots for night landings beyond which aircraft are not permitted to operate into that airport no matter its size or type.

After careful consideration by the Company’s Flight Operations Department, supported by a Risk Assessment, LIAT has applied to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) for this limitation to be increased.

The Company is awaiting a formal response from the ECCAA.

Yours sincerely,
Desmond Brown – Manager, Corporate Communications – LIAT (1974) Ltd.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

110 Comments

  1. dominican
    March 20, 2012

    we dominicans put an aviation minister who never had any experience in flying a plane… how stupid is that

  2. Dominican
    March 1, 2012

    So based on the information provided by Cesare Bonventre and the clarifications provided by map, am I to understand that the tailwind limitation of 10 knots is not specific to Dominica but that it is a general rule?

    If we built the airport in a different location would we still have the 10 knots limitation? Would it still be a problem?

    I am trying to determine if the problem is specific to Melville Hall Airport itself.

  3. WLR
    February 29, 2012

    Why build an int’l airport when you need a $27 mil state house, and maybe another $30 mil for a new modern prime minister’s quarters ??

    • Malatete
      February 29, 2012

      You forgot the helicopter pad that I would not be surprised to be installed at that palace!

  4. :-)
    February 29, 2012

    The main goal of night landing was to sneak in those labourites at night for election.

  5. How long?
    February 29, 2012

    Citizens who know and know that they know they are being fooled – are righteous.
    Citizens who know not and know that they know not they are being fooled – seek and believe in the truth.
    Citizens who know not and know not that they know not they are being fooled – are foolish.
    Citizens who know they are being fooled, but loves being fooled are………

    Where do you fit???????????
    In Govt.s Voodoo economics???????
    Politics of fooling!!!!!!!

  6. Dominican
    February 29, 2012

    Is this tailwind limitation of 10 knots a standard thing for the Caribbean? Do other islands have a higher limit? Why is LIAT trying to increase the limitation? What would it mean for safety in night landing?

    I’d appreciate some clarifications please.

    • Map
      February 29, 2012

      There is a tailwind limit of 10 knots for Melville Hall because if the plane has to abort the landing there are few choices to exit if it is landing from the sea.

      If landing from the sea it has to abort the flight no lower than 300 feet. Then it can swerve to the north west over Londonderry and gain altitude. Any higher winds and the risks are too great.

      A LIAT Avro ran off the inland end of the runway in 1990 because it was landing from the sea in high winds and a sudden gust pushed it forward. No one was injured, but the front wheel was damaged.

  7. really?
    February 29, 2012

    ian dauglas need to resign. but wait, possie people will continue to vote for him. poor dominica. and we wonder way our brightest don’t return after their studies? because dominicans prefer the dummies!

  8. pilot GGF
    February 29, 2012

    AT LAST !

    I have tried so many times to alert officials on that night landing issue at Melville Hall.

    I am glad to see that, eventually, some start admitting it.

    Let us just recall THIS :

    – a plane has to take off and land towards the wind
    – at Melville Hall, like in any Caribbean island, this wind is coming from the East ( i.e from the atlantic sea ) ; therefore, landings are performed on RWY 09.
    – due to the presence of mountains and hills on the approach, night landing cannot be performed this way ( too risky ) ; it must then be done the opposite way : on RWY 27
    – it works fine when there is no wind ; STILL, IT REMAINS VERY DANGEROUS If the landing has to be aborted at the last moment ( go round ), cause in this case, the plane flies towards the mountains, at a low altitude, in darkness !!!
    – For this reason, extending the RWY furthermore would not help

    • NICEY
      February 29, 2012

      Good info

    • Shameless
      March 1, 2012

      Say it again Mr.Pilot GGF. That is why I remain baffled at the whole prospect of LIAT trying to please the politicians (asking for an increase in tail wind speed from 10knots)and totally ignoring safety. They can have all night landing if they want but Hon. Shameless will never be found on one of them. I may leave at night by coming in at night from the sea is like playing russian roulet.

      Skerro was very very very smart when he gave the president his seat on the inaugural flight. The president being eager to make history jump right in with a big smile on his face not knowing the real risks. Unlike many who waited for the flight to land for the sole purpose of declaring a political achievement, I was quietly praying for god’s guidance. Thanks to Gods mercies and the skills of the LIAT Pilots all went well.

      It is time we all stop making the need for a proper airport political and do the right thing before we record a night landing disaster from the sea. If we dont heed the call of those in the know (native pilots and other flying pros.), we will one day have to live with a disaster on our hands (knock on wood)knowing full well we could have prevented it if we were not so politically blinded. By then, most of the recycled politicians now encouraging this dangerous venture for nothing other than cheap political points will be comfortably retired and most likely living in luxury elsewhere. May god guide the pilots who are required to perform this dangerous landings as part of their jobs.

      Now Mr. PM, you have to set the example and STOP the lying. It is no longer a joke because it is becoming a dangeorus trend. Ministers and children alike are becoming pros in this deceitful practice. Let us start by firing Ian now!

    • R. Weston
      October 3, 2015

      Safety is more important than political expediency. I was diverted to St. Vincent on a night flight to Dominica. My wife and child were travelling with me. I am thankful my family and I made it to Dominica a few days later, in one piece and alive. I am glad LIAT diverted the flight because of high winds and not put me and my family at risk. I owe my family a safe flight. I owe my daughter her turn to live a full life.

  9. Big-Bannan
    February 29, 2012

    Ian I’m afraid trying to make Liat look incapable is not going to help them land there any sooner.

  10. Cesare Bonventre
    February 29, 2012

    I am a prior USAF veteran & an air craft pilot.

    I might have missed a previous story on this topic, so forgive me for sounding ignorant.

    I want to ask: Is it my understanding that Dominica Melville airport routinely has average tailwinds greater than 10 knots?

    Is that the complaint: The collection of night time tailwind data at Melville reveals average tailwinds greater than 10 knots?

    Assuming that is the complaint:

    The origin of this 10 Knots tailwind limit dates way back – It can be found in (USA) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Air Regulations release 60-14, dated August 9, 1960.

    The Regulation specifically says:

    For the certification of tailwind operations greater than 10 Knots, the FAA requires that testing is done with a tailwind greater than 150% of the value to be certified. Furthermore the FAA also states that an average tailwind should be used. When certifying tailwind operations of for instance 15 Knots, the “average” tailwind during flight testing must be 22.5 Knots (all wind speeds are measured at a height of 10 meters above the surface).

    This also seems to be about what I read in Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority Regulations 8.7.2.3 (AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS).

    This means that this very old regulation simply requires a relatively easy certification program for Liat pilots. For instance, in a heavy tailwind the pilot merely modifies his flap setting for landing, and takes into consideration the new stopping distance margin calculations. This may sound fancy & maybe even difficult, but seriously: it’s little more than giving your own vehicle a little more time to stop when the roads are wet.

    I think the relevant question to ask is this one:

    Is the run way long enough to accommodate a strong tail wind? And: Is it not safe to simply have pilots change their landing direction to face the wind (winds are typically from the East so the pilot would have to land first on the west end of the runway).

    In the final analysis, training Liat pilots to operate in tailwind conditions greater than 10 knots should not be a big deal!

    The new airport in Dominica is larger than those at Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and in line with many airports in the Bahamas, Gerrard Smith International Airport in the Caymans, Grenada, Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, Mercedita Airport in Puerto Rico, Vigie Airport in St. Lucia, Cyril King in the US Virgin Islands, etc.

    On a side note, the following is story of some interest:

    A 2009 overrun of an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Kingston, Jamaica has prompted the US National Transportation Safety Board to recommend that the US Federal Aviation Administration require training for landing in tailwind conditions. The pilot in this case was either a moron or drunk as he didn’t touch down until nearly half the runway was behind him. You can read about the findings here:

    http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/american-kingston-overrun-triggers-tailwind-training-recommendations-365774/

  11. Big-Bannan
    February 29, 2012

    :-D Well boy LOOK-IT DNO send somebody to take pictures of the tail only. That is to indicate the real problem. lol. Wow i got a kick out of that one.

  12. Dubique767
    February 28, 2012

    Landing during the day is playing a balancing game at Melville Hall. If it is difficult during the day, much less for the night…instrument panel, pilot training, green or yellow lights, tailwind, neck wind, belly wind, back wind…it does not matter. I will schedule my flights to reach my beautiful Waitu before the sun kisses the horizon. If I can’t make it before sun set, I will gladly give myself to a hotel for the night. I have no intention of proving that I survived night landing at Melville Hall. As a matter of fact, I am going to print some t-shirts that say ” I survived night landing at Melville Hall” and hand them to those brave souls who come in on the night landing flights.

  13. Bush the third
    February 28, 2012

    You know, dem man start believing their own lies. Jus now they will start stealing their own stuff.

    • Liar Liar
      February 29, 2012

      LMAO

  14. Pedro
    February 28, 2012

    Money was negociated from the EU for building an International Airport and it was wasted at melvinhall. There are no additional investments being made in dominica as a result of the so called night landing. we have a Government for today and they have no interest in the future of the country.

  15. B. E .B
    February 28, 2012

    Because of all this, I got a flight conformed from Dominica at 7.00 PM onto Trinidad where I would get a connecting flight to Venezuela, because of the strong winds that flight was cancelled and I was left on my own to fend for myself. LIAT personnel told me that its act of God, so they are not responsible for my flight. I have to re-book my flight again ,the money I spent went down the drain. I cant see why the air lines can’t show some solidarity in respect of reembursing me at least a fraction of the money I spent

  16. Anonymous
    February 28, 2012

    MOUTH from the south,
    its an MT plane that landed in melvillehall on the nite of the inauguration of fake nite landing

    mouth from the north

  17. Anonymous
    February 28, 2012

    WELL, WELL, WELL

    I HOPE CHAVEZ DOESN’T INVADE TO GET HIS MONEY BACK

    BRISBAIN SHOULD ADD THAT ONE TO HIS “WHAT A WASTE” CAMPAIGN

  18. Met Yo
    February 28, 2012

    I mean seriously, even if there are alot of idiots in the place, who them fellas think they does be talking to nuh?

    How could Ian indicate that LIAT has indicated that not all their planes can land at night?

    When them fellas have their mad statements making, why they doesnt call a red rally and speak to their sheep nuh?

    Why come on National Radio and insult people intelligence?

    All the time is big risk them fellas taking with people lives, just for political points. I remember clearly at the time, Skerrit was under pressure for one of his many scandals. That night landing celebration charade was a way of throwing water on the current issues in the air at the time.

    Now that the dust has settled, what has been achieved?

    Money wasted. Lots of it. While civil servants cannot get their increase. While Social Security contributions will increase effective March 1st.

    But we liike it soooo. Jam them Skerro, Jam them hard in their pit toilet! lol

  19. February 28, 2012

    what do you expect when the blind is leading the blind.

  20. karl
    February 28, 2012

    untill we come together as one, this country will never prosper. I feel so sorry for you all. you all fail to educate youselves and just sit by and let these selfcentered individuals who call themselves ministers lead you all. julius was the head man for UWP who said so much about the present party. Today he is a minister in that same party. this is why I will never return to this country.

    • Anonymous
      February 29, 2012

      Please, don’t return!!! More space for me, Alien.

  21. OleSchul
    February 28, 2012

    So DNO it takes you 48 hours to moderate my comments?????

  22. Gr8
    February 28, 2012

    Why are they applying to wave a requirement set by the FAA! We need to be careful, we cannot sacrifice a safety requirement for lack of vision by a few misled men. Dominicans let us not play politics with our well being and safety. All mishaps will be felt by the nation…..

  23. Liar Liar
    February 28, 2012

    “Regional airline LIAT is to start scheduled night flights to Dominica from July 06, 2011.

    The flights to be placed in LIAT’s timetable will start travel from Antigua into Dominica and later from Barbados into Dominica, port officials have announced.

    Questions have been raised continuously concerning LIAT’s scheduled night flights since Dominica ushered in night landing at the enhanced Melville Hall airport last year.

    Minister for Ports Rayburn Blackmoore gave updates on the night schedules this week describing it as great news for passengers and for Dominica’s economy.” May 2011- another lie you hear lie that is lie

  24. DOM
    February 28, 2012

    Hold on, after reading the comments of one person who said that the no airplane can land down there no matter what size or type is incorrect. there are airports around the world that are just insane! Planes land there, look it up on youtube.

    The strip is designed so aircraft can land and take off in either direction depending on wind direction. We have A320s, 737, 757, and 777. Until you build something that is state-of-the-art don’t attempt to do nothing. Plus in order to make it lucrative you need to market your tourism product in order to make it economically viable for airlines to fly their planes to that place.

  25. Liar Liar
    February 28, 2012

    “Scheduled night time flights from the leading regional carrier, LIAT are here for the benefit and convenience of every Dominican and this Labour Party Government remains committed to take night landing to the next level.” that was Blackmoore last year November. You hear lie lie , that is lie

  26. DOM
    February 28, 2012

    BRilliant work DNO,

    Excellent work on this investigative reporting. Brilliant, I wish to see much more of this in the future. Put the truth out there if not appreciated by the mass it will surely serve as justification for our distrust of the powers that be.

  27. liatagain
    February 28, 2012

    Listing everything one .What Liat is talking about is bull, liat is making these excuse because Dominica haven’t invest in to the company and they are going to look for other excuse for the other island who don’t want to invest in liat,

  28. Jacky Chan
    February 28, 2012

    I yearn for the days when we would had Donkey Darby in Windsor Park. It was fun looking at the donkeys racing in the opposite direction, some heading North some heading south but never to the finish line. One year a donkey got about 5 feet from the finish line and the donkey just decide that wasn’t the right way and it started running away from the finish line.

    Unfortunately farmers don’t own Donkeys any more but we can surely make good use of the politicians and have a fun filled Donkey Darby just like the old days. Come creole fest we can put the Donkeys contestant on display – Boowik 1 – Dumb, Boowik 2 -Dumber , Boowik #3 – idiot , Boowik #4 and one Donkey Care Taker – a lawyer name Pasa Wed little bopit

    I want to register my Donkey early because I have a Mawo Pima weep especially for my donkey. Ji Up Donkey Ji UP Brrrrrrrr Brrrrrrrrr Hi hor hi hor hi hor

    No name no warrant DNO

  29. concerned investor
    February 28, 2012

    DNO, didn’t an investor write an article about this in 2010?
    Note! Military aircraft do not have the 10 knot tail wind restriction.
    What we have is a military airstrip and a deep water fuel access port at Jimmit.
    All strategically positioned to facilitate the defence of Venezuela’s territorial claim of the majority of the caribbean sea.
    Hence the reason why the cruise ships said “the fuel costs are too high to come to Dominica” as to enjoy the protection of the US and Dutch Naval patrols they have to circum navigate the disputed Venezuelan territorial seas.

  30. W
    February 28, 2012

    It could well be this is the very outcome Mr.Douglas intended.The issue of access to Dominica is now again in the public domain for honest discussion,let see what comes from this.

    I’m always amazed by the level of Social and Political awareness that exist in Dominica, but I’m hopeful that one day soon, the majority of us will come to the understand that every aspect of ourselves are affect by politics, and the moment we come to embrace this thinking we’ll see that Political Power is Economic Power. The truth is it is of great importance what man do; As well as the manner of the man that to it.
    Cheers

    • W
      February 28, 2012

      Meant “Our lives”

  31. iwannabeapilot
    February 28, 2012

    also, in the night landing struggles post,

    did mr douglas not blame ” Training and Limited Navigational Aid” for the lack of night landing when pertaining to liat?

  32. iwannabeapilot
    February 28, 2012

    Exactly What I stated in last weeks “Night Landing Struggles” thread

    “iwannabeapilot Like or Dislike: 3 0 February 24, 2012
    You’re clearly a moron, and lack any type of aeronautical knowledge, so what bash them if you know nothing.

    Did you know that landing at melville hall at night would require an approach from runway 29?

    Did you know that landing from runway 29 would yield a tail wind, causing faster approach speeds, thus the aircraft needing more runway to stop?

    Did you know that take-off from runway 29 is prohibited, much less a go-around.

    Did you know that obstacles called mountains and trees along with the downdraft at the approach into runway 9 makes it very hazardous at day, and even worst at night?

    Well now you know. Stop trying to blame it on the airline, and blame it on the architects that selected location and orientation of the airport. It would have been much easier to build a runway perpendicular to 9/27. Maybe then we would get Commercial Aircraft and not regional props.”

    • aspiring pilot
      February 29, 2012

      actually iwannabeapilot if you build a runway perpendicular to runways 9/29 the tail wind that is there now would turn int cross winds and if you wanted to be a pilot you would know that :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  33. Channel 1
    February 28, 2012

    Once again, Dominica’s most backward thinking government ie the DLP is realizing the foolishness of its ways. Knowing fully well the need for an international airport in a better location, they still went ahead and wasted millions of dollars on refurbishing a landing strip which is clearly not having substantial economic gains for the country.

    After having a celebration in September 2010 to celebrate Dominica placing last in the region in terms of being able to accommodate night landing by LIAT and a few ‘toy’ planes, where are we now in terms of air traffic quantity and quality into Dominica? Almost the same position as the pre-money wasting upgrade period of Melville Hall. Soucouyant may eventually be the ones making maximum use of the night landing facilities at Melville Hall for take off and landing.

  34. wow
    February 28, 2012

    NO

    That is like THE WHOLE REASON why American Airlines refuses to even TRY IT is because of the tailwinds and the fear that one night they’ll be trying to land, and a tailwind whips them so far off course, or at least hits them so severely, that if they start to crash and be forced to make an emergency landing, they’ll most likely have to do it INTO THE MOUNTAINS which means that there’s a 99% chance that everybody will die, compared to landing FROM the mountains and a problem occurs, and they can land in the sea.

    You have a better chance of surviving in the seas than you do in the mountains (especially on this island) where it’ll be virtually impossible to get anyone to you in time if you’ve happened to be lucky enough to have survived.

  35. Short Final
    February 28, 2012

    is their a Ministry of Liquor…haha thats suits
    someone who heads the Tourism Min..haha

    Guess the typical stuff….haha the poor bloke was confused…he should leave that damm liquour alone…haha

    Health studies have revealed that liquour cloudes the mind making it unable to think, read and understand issues……..his snr counsel said…he read a document upside down or something to that effect…haha..

    in essence LIAT has to ensure the Public that its running a effective safety island hopping service to the General Public…

    Melville Hall is a very tight night landing avenue for operations with many restrictions etc..

    Dominicans we arent running a Political Campaign of Handouts….Safety comes first…dont put your lifes in danger for mankind and their greed and ignornat ideals please!

  36. Donkey Darby
    February 28, 2012

    I yearn for the days when we would have Donkey Darby in Windsor Park. It was fun looking at the donkeys racing in the opposite direction, some heading North some heading south but never to the finish line. One year a donkey got about 5 feet from the finish line and the donkey just decide that wasn’t the right way and it started running away from the finish line.

    Unfortunately farmers don’t own Donkeys any more but we can surely make good use of the DLP politicians and have a fun filled Donkey Darby just like the old days. Ji Up Donkey Ji Up Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

    I want to register my Donkey early because I have a Mawo Pima weep especially for my donkey

  37. OleSchul
    February 28, 2012

    For those who seem young, international airport has always been a political tool in Dominica. Patrick John had a plan to build an airport that could accommodate jet landings in the north in the mid-seventies. The opposition Freedom party under Miss Charles killed the plan talking blood money from South Africa at that time; no airport! When Miss Charles was in government the international airport question came up again. Miss Charles was trying to have the US assist. Eddison James in the opposition at the time wrote to the US President asking that the assistance should not be given; no airport!I’ll stop there because we know the rest of the airport story…still no airport!!

  38. fooled again
    February 28, 2012

    Dominicans hard earned money being wasted again and again and again. But who cares. Many of the tax-payers do not even care what happens to their money. It could be taken from them without their knowledge and/or authority. For some No question. They do not have the Power to say NO. Some are afraid to ask their Govt. questions for fear of victimization, ridicule, or demonising.

    Millions wasted on that Night-landing project at Melville Hall. Look again $27,000,000.00 being WASTED on a State Palace, amidst serious concerns from all sectors of society. But who cares? Skerritt and his inefficient Labour Party Govt. have failed the Dominican people miserably. That night-landing quagmire is just another one of those crookedness.

    Remember, the rubbish bin and fertilizer Bobols? Even when some ask genuine questions, criticise, or offer alternative ideas on the way forward,you are taken apart. Reflect the problems Dominica facing with those passport, diplomatic passport sales? If Dominicans were more forceful, fearless, and demand transparency, accountability, demand answers and compel those in Govt. to pay for disastrous decisions and waste of their money, the country would be better off. Our people have allowed themselves to be MENTALLY ENSLAVED by a FEW people in power.

    Operatives and supporters of the DLP Govt. do not care two hoots if the country sinks because of lack of vision and WASTAGE of our money. Frankly, Skerritt and his ilk cannot manage the affairs of the country. It is that simple. The experiment with Skerritt as Leader has failed and will continue to fail even worse than what we are now seeing. Personal greed, selfishness, quick enrichment, Big Govt., advisers like peas. But who cares? The POOR are getting POORER, while those in POWER and their ilk are getting RICHER. Politicians in Govt. will fool the people as they wish. The people refuse to THINK. Dominicans have been really FOOLED, BIG TIME, by their own Govt. on that NIGHT-LANDING affair. Trust me. But so many do not even care whether they are fooled or their money taken and wasted. Really AMAZING. For many, Dominica comes last Kakarat. The politician and his party come first whether they are fooling, lying, cheating or involved alledgedly in all kinds of corrupt practices. Is so Dominica come!!!!!

    • WIKILEAKS
      February 28, 2012

      This is not tax payer money…this is a gift from a friendly government you the opposition hates.

      • Malatete
        February 29, 2012

        Correction Wicked Leaks. Not country but countries! First and foremost the E.U. followed by Venezuela. Am I grateful? Of course.

    • Jayson
      February 28, 2012

      Sad…but true. :cry:

  39. Sout Man
    February 28, 2012

    The LIAT Communications Manager did not rule out the capability of Melville Hall Airport for night landing. The main issue is the tailwind limitation of 10 knots for night landing at that airport, Melville Hall. Many airports are allowed to operate beyond 10 knots. Tailwinds have influence on ground speed, but with a reasonable runway, like we have, there should be no problem in increasing the limitation, as Mr Brown suggested.
    Our government should join with LIAT to lobby the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, (ECCAA), to increase that limitation. We need at least 10 years of service from Melville Hall to make it worthwhile. In the meantime, we can pay down some debt and seek funding for an international airport despite maintenance cost. With the possibility of the good fortune of geothermal energy, we need companies to set up in Dominica instead of selling cheap energy to Guadeloupe and Martinique and have investors set up shop in the French islands instead.

    • Short Final
      February 28, 2012

      lol lol lol you sound confused…Melville hall is not viable dont you read and understand issues..

      you free to comment put please think outside of the box you trying to make them compromise safety….are you highly ignornant or the sky is dark yellow for you..lol what im seeing here.

      haha are you a red clinc card holder..seems so..as you sounded way off key!!

      • Sout Man
        March 1, 2012

        “The real issue is that Dominica has a tailwind limitation of 10 knots for night landings beyond which aircraft are not permitted to operate into that airport no matter its size or type.

        After careful consideration by the Company’s Flight Operations Department, supported by a Risk Assessment, LIAT has applied to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) for this limitation to be increased”.

        The ECCAA placed the 10 knots limitation. Planes can land in tailwinds in excess of 10 knots. Its like the police having a speed limit of 25 mph around a corner but you drive at 50 mph anyway. A cautious driver would argue for a safe limit of 35mph. That’s all LIAT is asking ECCAA for; a simple increase of a few more permissible knots because they’ve already had a risk assessment that determines that they can land safely. It’s done all over the world.

        You are the one who did not understand what you read. Try again. It has nothing to do with red clinic. Read and come again and don’t be too hasty to accuse people, exposing your ignorance in the process.

    • Donkey Darby
      February 28, 2012

      Yah two years after inaugural flight, years of construction only now we hearing that crap. What happen the Tail Winds just came in from china in a container. I hope they pay custom duty for the new Tail Winds.
      Stop buying lies and illusion and be smart.Remember all the excuses before Tail Wind- you are smart so be smart. Can’t you tell when you are being taken for a ride. If try learnin some street smarts.

    • iwannabeapilot
      February 28, 2012

      with extending the tail wind limitation to +10 knots wouldn’t be a problem since we have enough runway. The problem would be the mountains at runway 9 hindering a go around in-case of an emergency.

      • aspiring pilot
        February 29, 2012

        oh so you know something that is true

    • HELAS!
      February 28, 2012

      sorte! man

  40. ?????
    February 28, 2012

    A lazy government with no vision.No wonder the country is so d– poor and corrupt.

  41. jay
    February 28, 2012

    ONLY CRAZY PEOPLE WILL BORDER AN AIRCRAFT THAT WILL LAND IN DA AT NIGHT AT PRESENT.

    • tell us the truth
      February 28, 2012

      maybe not crazy but desperate

    • WIKILEAKS
      February 28, 2012

      What a stupid statement

  42. Truth and Justice
    February 28, 2012

    There was a calypso one year named ” Give Me Back My Vote”. What a waste of effort this DLP administration. That government is like an old coconut on the ocean just floating , no destination. Just gathering fungi, algae. These guys had a big hoop la about night landing and now we hearing about tail wind . There is no need for this dysfunctional administration to come clean because they are way to dirty and dishonest. The people with basic common sense and who are not party blind know what has happened – poor planning, acts of desperation, no consultation. How can you run a country under such condition. In the civilized world people get fired for making such irrational decisions.

    It is approaching two years since the grand ceremony and all we have been getting is excuses after excuses or plain lies after lies. You spend 120 million dollars on a night landing program and first according to the government they did not take into consideration night navigation instruments ( Whatever). Now there is a tail wind issue mixed with special training for pilots. My god what are we doing in Dominica. It is no surprise why a country once the flag ship of the OECS is now considered the poorest of them all.

  43. February 28, 2012

    weh weh weh…. that party called D.L.P that have more drama…. if this quote below is correct, then why did they have a liat plane land in the inauguration ceremony…

    “The real issue is that Dominica has a tailwind limitation of 10 knots for night landings beyond which aircraft are not permitted to operate into that airport no matter its size or type”

    • da massive
      February 28, 2012

      cant you read? this particular time of year is very windy and hence there are gonna be lots of days that winds will be high and times whens its calm. the last 5 days the wind have been gusting in the mid 20s . hence liat cancelling its evening flights for 5 days.. you get it now.

  44. February 28, 2012

    I’ve been reading DNO for years and all Dominicans do is criticize. Let us bring logical ideas to the table to rid this problem.

    • Logi Big Cal
      February 28, 2012

      Dude whe have 10 advisors on the PM pay rol not even counting diplomats that creeping out of cracks and crevices. What is logical is to get this miserable administration out of our government.The government is paying advisor $10 K grand a month what advise we can give those arrogant idiots. Did you hear of Parry Bellots report. If the government wanted the people’s advise they would not have spent (1) 120 million dollars on the airport and now spending 27 million on a state palace in this hard economic time. If you nothing to say shut up else call a spade a spade. All we want is accountability and efficiency.
      One advise to you Ryan listen to Dice song ” country first not Party”

    • Channel 1
      February 28, 2012

      @Ryan — In 2000, the UWP brought across a logical solution to address Dominica’s air access problems. However a large percentage of Dominicans at the time choose to deliberately reject the UWP’s idea of an international airport and its other progressive plans. Look at the nonsense Dominica stuck with now.

    • C/bean Gnius
      February 28, 2012

      People like you dont like to hear logical ideas that make your government seem inept and not able to properly govern the country. So why ask for it and when people point out the problem you the first to thumbs down and defend your inept politicians.

      First thing to fixing a problem is recognising there is a problem, and one of Dominicas main problem is a succession of governments(politicians) that are inefficient, incapable, lack vision, short sighted, small minded, corrupt, dishonest, self enriching, and plain out need to be carried away by sanitary engineers to their proper place…

    • Anonymous
      February 28, 2012

      Ryan shut up ur fool…all u idiots who just keep saying all we need is night landing at melville hall..u must be one of them…eagle not landing and liat hardly too….wastw of money by short sighted imbeciles..go eat ur vomit now…and the idiot talkin about raising the 10knot limit….whos safety u want to sacrifice to save face? not mine!!

    • Anonymous
      February 29, 2012

      Boss, nonesense you talking. So if it not good, dont say it not good?

  45. low
    February 28, 2012

    One cannot blame the Minister of Tourism for commenting on navigational instruments for night landning nor training of Liat pilots with that skill. All that information must have come from the old Liat and when they realize that will not hold they are now coming with another excuse of tailwinds. We must stop taking excuses from Liat because if Dominica wants to invest money in Liat we cannot continue to be treated like a stepchild. Hey maybe someone in scheduling wants something under the table and night landing in Dominica will automatically become possible. Remember we are not overnighting in Antigua again so they cannot get to vole our stuff so we are being penalised from another front.

    • Logi Big Cal
      February 28, 2012

      What a bag of crap. Is that your contribution to sucha dismal performance on the part of a lame government?

    • iwannabeapilot
      February 28, 2012

      you’re a moron. Remember when the tourism minister said that the runway was 8000+ feet long, When it is only 5249 ft.?

    • da massive
      February 28, 2012

      there is something wrong with you. u must be mentally challenged. the eccaa regulation is 10 knots from runway 27 or that you understand from the sea.melvillehall is only 5800feet. its not that liat cannot come in with the winds a little above 10 kknots,but from a safety stand point the pilots wont.not only would he be putting at risk the lives of the passengers, he would be risking his own and livelyhood along with an aircraft worth millions of dollars.

    • C/bean Gnius
      February 28, 2012

      get the hell out of here with that ishh

  46. Met Yo
    February 28, 2012

    Where them nuh? ooo teee yoooooo

    Night landing…big celebration….a set of maaahjeee….

    where it now??

    LMAO

    • :-)
      February 28, 2012

      U hit the nail on the head

  47. caribdiva1
    February 28, 2012

    Not Me…..I’m not landing in DA at nights!! take off at 7 or 8 pm. The sick will have to wait, the dead already dead.
    I

  48. Country
    February 28, 2012

    Ian, Skerrit, Reginald, Rayburn. Think you can fool all or some of the people all the time? Your days are numbered.

    Time to repent my brothers.

  49. Evolved
    February 28, 2012

    Douglas again – speaking on matters he has no knowledge of or experience in.

    Dominican people better wake up! Stop sleeping!

    Why didn’t the Govt know of these restrictions before construction?

    The Melvill Hall airport has serious defeciencies – it is the one of the major obstacles that hinder tourism development in Dominica.

    The Minister of Tourism and his coilleagues just do not get it

    YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME

  50. Hhhhhmmm
    February 28, 2012

    So you mean they applying to increase the existing tailwind limitation that has been determined as safe just to satisfy the politicians and put people life at risk. How many people think they serious?

  51. Anonymous
    February 28, 2012

    My take is why would LIAT even apply for an increase in flight limitations, when there is a tailwind of 10knots that forbids night landing… just putting lives in jeopady…Didn’t the PM and crew did all the feasibility and capabilities before spending all this money

  52. We knew, We knew,
    February 28, 2012

    The Govt. was forewarned about spending so much money on that Night-landing fiasco. In addtion to refusing to listen to the genuine calls of the people, Govt. took tax payers hard earned money, invited their guests and chartered an inaugural Night-Landing Flight from Antigua to Dominica.

    Thousands were spent. Remember, Skerritt stayed on Land to welcome those who braved the flight and risked their lives? It was Hooray!!! Champagne, beers, eats. Big Party!!! Thousands of dollars go down the drain again. No more overnighting in Antigua or Barbados. LIAT and other airlines were just waiting for night-landing into Dominica. Night- Landing Wevay. Problem solve with air access into Dominica.

    Today, is a complete different story. Nothing short of an international airport would propel the NATURE ISLE towards meaningful development. Plans were well afoot to making that a reality. Instead, the Skerritt-led incompetent DLP Govt. aborted that important National project. The TRUTH SHALL PREVAIL. NO LIE COULD LAST FOREVER. The proejct was ill-conceived. All along many Dominicans suspected something was not right.

    • BTW
      February 28, 2012

      Capital letters and misspelled words don’t add anything to your point.

      • malaway child
        February 28, 2012

        Perfect example of an ignorant person. Just read between the lines and will get the point or jus don’t read at all.

      • C/bean Gnius
        February 28, 2012

        @btw..

        Look at the message and stop being an idiot, people like you with that mentality is what have dominicans so…

        Or maybe two beers now and then is all the ambition you have in this life??????

    • noob
      February 28, 2012

      I think its too late for Dominica… too late the international airport should of been built ten years ago… no major airline going to bother flying into Dominica even with an international aiport… cause persay there were 100 people going to antigua and only 40 out of those going into dominica they would rather choose the option of overnighting saving the airline the extra cost just to land in dominica

  53. Irie
    February 28, 2012

    Ian last…weh papa, what we must do with Ian? All how we turn he making us honte. Eh, our tourism minister must do us dat? Misinforming the public so? Garcon pay attention and stop saying what you want otherwise go and free up yourself on purple turtle. Stupes.

  54. Anonymous
    February 28, 2012

    But why do they want to risk peoples’ lives just to play politics? SMH..Who want to land in DA night time hat is their business. pas moi!!!

  55. Malatete
    February 28, 2012

    Didn’t we know this even before we started the costly expansion programme?? We always knew that night flights into Melville Hall would have to approach from the sea with the prevailing wind i.e. a tailwind!
    The only way to improve this is to either lengthen the existing runway or construct an entirely new one with an unimpeded flight path from either direction.

  56. am
    February 28, 2012

    The AM landing fine.
    De problem is in de PM!
    …should watch de tail!

    • Checo mania
      February 28, 2012

      Come on man finish the calypso

      In the AM Landing Fine
      In the PM LIAT decline
      Cyan get a LIAT pilot to land
      Unless they pay 50 Grand

      In the AM Skerrit Flying
      In the PM he not night landing
      They charter a LIAT pilot
      Loaded a plane with a bunch of sort
      In the AM he fly the world
      In the PM he sit in the terminal.

      • Anonymous
        February 28, 2012

        BOY DAT ONE FOR NEXT YEAR FOR SURE!!!!!

      • Anonymous
        February 29, 2012

        i love this!!!

  57. Concerned citiizen
    February 28, 2012

    Well, we will have to turn the runway!!

  58. Terminal # 2
    February 28, 2012

    haha again here its Goes where are our so call Proffessionals in Dominica…

    Can someone please rip their certificates off the wall and burn it completely.

    what did the Gibbs report back in the 80s when Mamo was told about the risk factors about Melville Hall.. she said about getting something to light up where….hmm..

    it shows how low leveled a society Dominica is.
    this situation occurs sometimes 4-5 months in the year, where was the either past study or updated study to clear it etc…

    we just dont seem to get it at all in Dominica period, so we end up with two airports disabled canefield suffers from wind virus as well too..

    however a study was done in the late 90s for a better site in a 45 degree angle which had a better line of sight at both ends for approach aspect..lands we purchased what has happened..

    so we end up scoring zero as usual in Dominica..
    thats why im off the firm belief the same thing will end up with the energy source we exploring now…..trust me…

    French citizens will see a better reduction in the bills before the average Dominican can feel proud..we always in Dominica set low standards then come to fool the citizens which drink and loud music and t-shirts….is slavery still existing Dominica surely qualifies for a A Plus rating when it comes to being deep thinkers..Facts

    Safety is Key in the aviation industry, liat has a excellent record and it must be upheld..they are not pleasing a regime, standards have to be maintained…

    I often wonder what will turn Dominican around to make it citizens think deeper discuss issues.

    Why, Why or when did Dominica take that massive plunge down stream i think it started in the past decade…can anyone make a impact on this island.

    Dominicans talk way too much and have very little to should i think sooner Dominica will be next inline with Haiti as all over the island the standard of living is dropping..

    Where their is no vision the people perish..

    Can someone please get us a Leader who has a past of atleast runing a rum shop for God’s sake..atleast their is something he has done track record wise….

    Why would modern day citizens experiment with someone who does have a clue on running basic or house chores…..Dominica is a visionless Island!

  59. Calypso Fan
    February 28, 2012

    Zor Mi Cochoni Dominique. Ian saying what he want as usual; Blackmore his teeth and everything is upside down. Remember that at one point the issue was instrument (not Earl Williams you know). Then there was Aviation authority permits; Now it’s a tail wind. Everything is upside down, back to front if I didn’t know better I would have thought is voodoo working in Dominica.
    So when they loaded the $50 k charted flights with a bunch of idiots chanting landing and Skerro stay in the terminal they had no idea that their was a big risk with tail winds.
    What is the next excuse – the sea blast from the Atlantic ocean have too much salt or is it that the glare from the Label and cwechet in Wesely is causing distraction and instrument malfunction.
    Ladies and gentlemen a clear indication that the Mellville Hall $120 million was a disaster; no feasibility studies, no thorough research, no economic evaluation- Zip nada. What we have is a set of people running the country with no managerial skills, no experience, square pegs in round holes and just running the country dry.

    Where is Hunter when we need him to sing the calypsos – Karl they joking, they running the country dry, 18 ministries no efficiencies, Donkey have no right in horse race. I guess he too busy righting songs while walking on egg shell. No wonder he get his neck cut at the semi finals.

    • gooseberry
      February 28, 2012

      hahahahah anyway Calypso Fan u get an A+ for “Mapui”

    • ....................
      February 28, 2012

      It was a drunkard trip. They would have perished “too soo”. What a country!

  60. win,lose or draw!
    February 28, 2012

    you see it just not good to lie, and speak untruths.so mr douglas didnot think liat would give us the truth about the night landing???come on man, my three year old son would anticipate a response from liat ,so why try to mislead the MASSES?????

  61. Jayson
    February 28, 2012

    Ian…

    :( I expect your resignation on my desk first thing tomorrow morning… :(

    • Concerned citiizen
      February 28, 2012

      I expect anything from Ian Douglas!

    • Trouble Intended
      February 28, 2012

      nice…. you firing him because he lied or because he did not remember the circumstances/ details?

    • Bull crap
      February 28, 2012

      see what happen when u have politicians that just flat out lie to the public. and i can bet u anything that their are some blind unthinking people that will try to make excuse for Ian.

      Why cant u just be man enough to tell he people the truth, but i guess history once again repeats it self cause some Dominicans will believe any crap the politicians they support tell them.

    • Anonymous
      February 28, 2012

      Ian is not the aviation minister; he is tourism minister!!!!!

      • Anonymous
        February 28, 2012

        So why he came and mis-imfored the people. no one tie a rope in his neck to come and give that untrue statment. cover still

      • Irie
        February 28, 2012

        All of them sitting down in cabinet together, you doh think he should get his facts straight? As for de Minister responsible for aviation we should flog him publicly on de runway strip.

      • Malatete
        February 28, 2012

        O.K., accepted! So why then does he make pronouncements on aviation ?

    • gwa bay
      February 28, 2012

      Skerro?!? Is that you?…

  62. Map
    February 28, 2012

    I am not an aviation engineer, but it is obvious to anyone who lives in the northeast of Dominica that the wind from the sea does NOT die down when the sun sets.

    But years back, about 2003, some committee of “experts” that was put together to plan the airport upgrade said that in the night the breeze will come from the mountains and go out to sea, so therefore it is feesable. A totally new location was what was needed.

    Anyway, to be on the positive side, at least (1)night landing is there to take off on normal days if neccessary such as planes being late and (2) the airport enhancement has not put us into debt like St. Vincent is experiencing trying to build theirs.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available