High winds cause flight cancellation at Melville Hall

 

Melville Hall Airport from the air. Photo by Elton Letang

Air passengers traveling via the Melville Hall airport over the past few days have been confronted with airlines cancelling flights because of serious high winds at that airport.

According to reports reaching DNO, LIAT and American Eagle have had to cancel a number of flights between Monday and Tuesday this week.

A DNO correspondent who was at the airport on Tuesday February 28, 2012 was forced to seek hotel accommodation in Marigot because LIAT flights 309 and 768 were cancelled.

“All we can say is that this has been the trend for the week because of the unusually high winds that we are now experiencing,” an airport official explained, while making it clear that the individual was not speaking in an official capacity.

The official explained that FAA regulations dictates that  while the tail winds must be 10 knots or under for landing, it has over the past days been a much higher 15 knots.

“They are trying to get them (FAA) to change that but it has not been forth coming,” the official told DNO.

Meanwhile hundreds of stranded passengers of LIAT and American Airlines were forced to return home and seek alternatives.

Most of the LIAT flights affected were due to have landed after sunset.

LIAT and American officials have been quoted as saying “it’s an act of God and we are not responsible.”

But irate stranded passengers voicing their anger and frustration told DNO, “this matter has been going on now for days and the airlines ought to know better and stop having flights after sunset.”

Top LIAT and American officials were not available to comment on the matter.

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97 Comments

  1. John
    December 16, 2013

    Seems to me by the look at the photo that the runway could have been extended another 600 feet towards the Atlantic and a road tunnel constructed for the road to pass under the runway also Skerrit needs to ask his Chinese friends to use explosives to flatten the mountain at the east end to extend the runway another 1000 feet that way too then the length and wind would not be an issue. Also, since when does the US FAA dictate policy in Dominica i thought Dominica was a sovereign country.

  2. Jeanette Salik
    March 10, 2012

    Landing at Melville Hall Airport can be a bit scary most of the time but we’ve always managed without incident. Why the fixation on an international airport? Considering there will be no international flights landing in Dominica in this life time, it would be a total waste of monies that could be put to better use? The focus should be on getting crime under control so that the tourist we invite to our beautiful island (which at this time is not so beautiful after all) will have a safe and enjoyable visit.

  3. Yesah
    March 1, 2012

    88 comments on high winds affecting flights at Melville Hall and serious political debate. OMG How idle are we? :lol: :lol:

    • me
      March 1, 2012

      BUT YOU ARE IDLE TOO!!!LOL!!!

  4. Mouth
    March 1, 2012

    We kant even day land is night land all you want to night land?

  5. Gr8
    February 29, 2012

    I wonder if they will claim Liat statement is politically motivated……..

  6. C/bean Gnius
    February 29, 2012

    In the Land of the Blind(dominica/cans) the One-eyed man(politicians) is king. And we wonder why our country is so mediocre and backward….

  7. tiny
    February 29, 2012

    @ cerberus…. so you mean they doh put lights on the mountains….oh my…thought that was so…how difficult is it to put a couple of light on the mountains to guide the planes

    …i have never been there at night so i wouldn’t know…well i still cannot believe all those millions was spent on this airport….they should have fix up Roseau with that money instead…and we Dominicans just sitting down and taking that…..

    • tiny
      March 1, 2012

      and by lights i mean BEACONS ok smarty pants

  8. Anonymous
    February 29, 2012

    Dominica is very mountainous.Every where you turn is a mountain.They should have simply build the airport
    in a more suitable area where the planes will be able to land and depart at both runways!Right now pilots do not want to land via runway o9 because of the mountains at nights, and the tail winds around that time of year is very strong so is a difficulty in land via rwy27!The authorities,not only the government, did not think about that i guess!

    • John
      December 16, 2013

      Where do you suggest they should have built the airport instead? Have you ever been to Dominica?There is no where else an airport could have been constructed, the only other alternative is to extend the present one further into the Atlantic or use explosives to level the mountain at the easy end. The decision to put the airport there was made in the 1950’s because it was determined no where else was feasible.

  9. Jane
    February 29, 2012

    Real, u have not seen ST.Vincent air strip. Go there and comment after.U don’t seem to have info on air ports

    • again
      February 29, 2012

      But they are building an international airport that is eleven times bigger than Melville Hall…

      • Anonymous
        February 29, 2012

        SVG going brokes all now because of that pipe dream

  10. Barbados
    February 29, 2012

    Yes I was stuck in Barbados for an extra day. But I say better safe than sorry. Im home finally, thank God.

  11. sugar s
    February 29, 2012

    they say planes will land melville hall in the night, once the price is right. :-P :-P

  12. gain
    February 29, 2012

    I don’t get, DOMINICA; is a big island bigger than some of the other islands, why the government can’t come up with some productive ideas, to service the people who put them in power, they need better air access. I believe the $27m state house should have been on the backburner and look for a more forceful way to build a jet airport/inter’l… look for a suitable site do some feasibility study, bring in some big machinery and throw down some mountain, the technology is around for everything and anything. Start something and it will finish, build it and people will come.

    • Anonymous
      February 29, 2012

      Dear Brother/Sister,

      All that you suggest have been already done as it relates to feasebility studies, the best location for the airport, purchase of lands, etc. The current govt argued that it was too costly to construct and that what they were doing WOULD INCREASE AIR ACCESS TO DOMINICA AND CONCENTRATE ON THE INTERNATIONAL LATER.

      Note the irony: to increase air access!!!!

      Now if it is too costly NOW, won’t DELAYING its construction not INCREASE the cost later?

      The govt is disrespecting the population and what is worse, they are accepting it!!!

    • Bush the third
      March 1, 2012

      Gain, There is already a site paid for by the UWP when they were in office. There were also millions of dollars there to start the International airport but when the Labour party came into power they wasted the money on that mess. Do you know that Dominica is the third largest english speaking island in the caribbean and we are the only one without a proper airport.

    • profiler
      March 2, 2012

      “… look for a suitable site do some feasibility study, bring in some big machinery and throw down some mountain,”…. you mean over Athie dead body :lol: :lol: :lol:

  13. true
    February 29, 2012

    “it’s an act of God and we are not responsible.”
    What crap, wind is an act of God?, where do you people get this from? people they say such things should not be in any positions. Blame God for everything, wind, hurricane, rain are natural occurrences. You mean he woke up this morning and said “I want strong winds today”

  14. wavelenght
    February 29, 2012

    this isnt anything new at this time of the year winds are normal higher….

    the issue is that night operations will certainly suffer because of a lack of judgement my so call weak proffessional not doing their homework prior to this project…

    when LIAT had flight to canefield during this season massive cancellations due wind..

    sad thing in the night in Melville hall 27 approach is what is given as its too scary to land at 09 in the mountains…

    dominicans are fully aware of what was happening but rather went in for the bling as usually they do…..keep on dominicans you heading for the stars..great visison…haha

  15. February 29, 2012

    those environmentalists and nature island people and those who own the big hotels encouraged the govt to expand melville hall said we were not ready for int airport. Oh by the way it is against our natural habitat. They also said that in the evenings the wind dies down and not as bad. so, it would be smooth sailing. Therefore, where this knots business come from.

    • current
      February 29, 2012

      well said and factual…those are the misguided folks who keep dominica down….selfish motives
      way too much in Dominica..

      we need a flushing tank around here guys get rid of old fashion waste in dominica!

      • Anthony P. Ismael
        February 29, 2012

        When passion and emotion outweighs scientific logic, you wind up with the brillance that was the Melville Hall upgrade. Instead of lobbying the FAA to change its regulations, why not upgrade the airport to address this particular issue.
        They need more hotel rooms in Marigot. If you reside in the Southern part of the island, it’s a tough trip back to town and then back to Marigot again after flight cancellations.

    • Patriotic B
      February 29, 2012

      Well said! Either the officials did not inform the people about the FAA regulations or the they hope to have it increased after the construction. This is really a safety issue and I don’t see why they would even put a request to increase the knots when it is NATURE ARE WORK.

      When you are landing is such a mountainous region, every second counts. Therefore if landing is to be aborted for wind or other reason, how are they going to accelerate without clear vision. I have landed by sea many times and at times you don’t actually see the land or the airport until you are ready to touch down.

  16. zouzou
    February 29, 2012

    now liat will be happy because every body will have to pay a little more for their next tickets

  17. tactical
    February 29, 2012

    Antigua stop flights from flying because of high winds yet LIAT was diverted from Melville Hall to their base in Antigua so how did they eventually land at that station; is it under or above the high winds?

    High winds can be a nusisance to aircraft operations; on your nose it is a plus for aircraft landing as it slows you down tremendously allowing you to land much softy and slower-using less braking action including reverse thurst and landing runway – in flight however it reduces your airspeed allows you to burn more fuel and delays your arrival;

    High winds on your tail the opposite happens – it will add to your landing or approach speed resulting sometimes in a harder landing, the use of more landing runway and the use of more reverse and breaking to bring the aircraft to a halt or stop. Inflight it will increase your airspeed allow you to get to your distination much faster- ( driving a motor car is like going up a hill as against going down hill); in the case of Antigua and the others who have longer and wider runways with less obstructions -in the case of high winds dependent on the wind direction one can switch runways and therefore it is not unusual to see planes landing from East to West rather than from West to East which is the more prevalant wind flow pattern in our region; in a cross wind scenario then that may create some real challenges to the crew and here in
    comes the factor of runway length and width to compensate as each aircraft type will have a cross wind component( a component that always the aircraft to operate as per the manufactureres limts.).
    In the case of Dominica

    1. Uniqueness and characteristics of Melville Hall and Canefield does not allow airlines that luxury; therefore operations in marginal conditions (wind, rain visibility etc) will always be much more dicy or dangerous than in the neighbouring airports.
    2. Melville Hall the predominant runway is from the mountain the other runway coming from the sea plus all the obstructions around the airport does not allow the same safety comfort to airlines as it would in other airports even if the winds were coming straight down the runway.
    3. The FAA does not have jurisdiction and oversight over LIAT ECCAA has that responsibility therefore the FAA had or has nothing to do with LIATS operations; the FAA has set the standards based on the airport characteristics and the aircraft performance for American Eagle as ECCAA does for LIAT. So it is not unusual to experience LIAT landing from the sea whereas the American never does that due to the FAA restrictions.
    3. The aircraft performance charts will speak to the limitations of the aircraft as it pertains to its ability to operate in any given situation, that added to the company’s safety policy and OVERSIGHT standards including that of the LEVEL of its trained crew ( it is not uncommon to have certain crew certified to operate into certain airports that are marginal ) will help determine how and when the aircraft is allowed to operate in any given condition; the final decision is that of the pilot in command guided obviously by operations.

    The Airport Authority also will make a determination against its own safety standards and limitations; there are a lot of dynamics at play here then! so I mention all that to say that when we are making contributions to the subject we should try to learn and understand some of the issues at play. It is obvious then to conclude that the more compliant your facility is to meeting the international safety standards the less likely disruptions will occur at the facility. As we speak everyone has agreed that Melville is meant to address the immediate need while attempts are being made to seek an alternative. In that scenario we are to expect more cancellations and diversions once the conditions become marginal and that is all in keeping to the safety standards whether we huff and puff about it.-

    • Anonymous
      March 1, 2012

      finally someone talks sense with appropriate knowledge on the matter!

    • 4progress
      March 1, 2012

      @tactical ….tks for the info.

      In the absence of the various appraisals carried out re: Melville Hall, Canefield and NEW AIRPORT, have u got or access to info stating what the specification, criteria and best location for an airport is or should be.

      • tactical
        March 2, 2012

        In reponse to “4Progress’ request for information.

        There are quite a bit of studies done on various locations where a Jet Port could be constructed in Dominica including Pond Case, Portsmouth,Compton Point eden – Wesley/Woodford Hill – all these sites have limitations in one form or the other – the most siutable site from what I read and from the evaluations done is the Wesley/Woodford Hill site with a close second being the Crompton Point site – we must come to the realization by now that any development and construction of a jet port in Dominica is going to be a very expensive and challenging project- and that is due to the topograpghy of the island – earth moving will be a significant factor and may be the most significant cost in the equation; there is also the diversion of water courses and drainage issues given our high rain fall and our soil types etc. then the fact that we are a mountainous island requires us to have a sound/precise/precision instrument approach system and an approach for landing that allows an unobstructive straight in approach to jet aircraft for at least one to one and a half miles with a clear misapproach pattern.

        In comparison to the other islands we have not been blessed to any great extent with much flat land nor did we ever had a history of having a military base especially air force base that would already set the basis on which a jet port could be developed. Take for instance Antigua, St Kitts, St Lucia, Trinidad, Barbados etc all were built from the remnants of air force bases or had the luxury of having flat and accessable lands – Grenada’s was from Cuban military activity – the point is unlike the others we have to start from scratch and therefore it will be very capital intensive just to do the preparatory work. I t is not impossible however it will cost a fortune – then the question will always follow after such massive investment what level of traffice can we attract to make this project viable – thats a legitimate question that any true developer/economist/donor/financier/tax payer will/should asked.

        So in conclusion what I will say to ‘4 Progress’ is a lot of thought and planning has to go into the idea of building a jet port in Dominica at any of the two locations I have identified. Apart from the cost of earth moving and all what goes with it especially in the Wesley /Woodford Hill area there is also the issue of relocation and dislocation of villages and farms and farmers etc; there are also environmental conditions as rivers and water courses have to be diverted, drained, valleys have to be back filled; mountain tops and ridges may have to be cleared to facilitate the approach etc; there is also the study and consideration of attractinfg the requisite traffic/aircraft into the facility to make it sustainable/viable – one should not build an airport on the assumption that once bulit planes will come from nowhere and anywhere to use the facility – and one should not think it safe just to say that the airport on its own will bring hotels and new business – the airport if it has to be built needs to be built against a well thought out national strategic plan for the sustainable development of the island. Finally the most important factor will always be the safety issues and considerations for aircraft especially for the reputable airlines (BA, vIRGIN, American, Singnapore,Caribbean Airlines,etc) likely to operate into the facility given the surrounding typography; In others words the aircraft type that was allowed to land during the 2009 era or fraka the BA’S and American Airlines also have these aircraft types however they may never ever land at Melville Hall given the characteristics of the airport; a charter flight which is not properly regulated may take a chance like was done in 2009 however the more established airlines are less likely to be attracted to these kinds of facilities.

        It is not impossible to have a jet port in Dominica one day however it is going to take some doing it requires carefull consideration and planning as it will be an investment of a lifetime of several future generations.

  18. zouzou
    February 29, 2012

    that airport look dangerious in rainingseason and when it have a lot of wind because of where it located between see and mountains

  19. vanassa
    February 29, 2012

    let nature do it work before people start complaining about if Dominica hard an internation airport it had couples of weeks ago we were going to Guyane and because of heavy rain the plane had to diverted back to martinique,

  20. Lorry
    February 29, 2012

    The high winds have been an issue in Barbados too. it is talked about on the “Weather Report” every night. There was a hint given above as to why planes could continue to land in the other islands. One end of the airport is mountains. Compare that with the other islands.

  21. seeker
    February 29, 2012

    i think so ease the frustration on the travelling Public liat should just not place evening flights into Melville Hall at this time of the year..

    Liat has sufficient data to know the winds aspect at both airports in Dominica..

    Liat safety is on high marks in your company.

    Please just stick to day light Operations into
    Melville Hall….that will make this Regime seek funding to continue the international airport

    The Regime has a plus already as lands for the airport is already there,so then need to start thinking something for once in the rein in office

    why do we drop the bar to low in Dominica and then turn around and fool citizens with smiles and small talk….what a joke in DA!

  22. Morihei Ueshiba
    February 29, 2012

    :cry: Nothing this Govt doing for the people working, because they not genuine, they don’t love Dominica, & only want to get rich!

  23. Wings
    February 29, 2012

    From Months of Nov of the previous year till Mar of the New Year and also for some breif periods during the year,winds have always being a issue espically affecting Canefield airport the cancellations are on records in the Tower and Liat records showing that when they have services operating out of canefield…

    Melville Hall because of Night Operations is completely different from Day Ops the issue of winds come into play because of the 27 approach landing at melville hall with the winds at the back of the aircraft…..it happens at this time of year 3-5 months…so i dont see the issue..the info is their…

    The Marigot Fisheries Project the Japanese came to the Meterogolical office for weather data (rainfall) for 3 years so the could conduct test and studies etc….their is a difference when a Project is classy and when its done to score points as Melville Hall wasnt studied fully at all.

    Thats why the lands purchase by UWP regime for the newer airport took studies of rainfall,winds, approach landing and take off etc.the info is setting in the Government Ministry…

    But its Dominica classified as another specfic planet where things are rather, hmm something seems screwed thats the legacy..haha…

    Maybe extra Asphalt have gotten into our wind surface!!haha

    • anonymous
      March 2, 2012

      Studies were done before the Melville hall airport was built. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

  24. real
    February 29, 2012

    landing in dominica there is little room for error given the length of the runway and location of the airport “near to mountains”. therefore planes cant afford to land in winds 15knots any other airport in the caribbean you would be able to land but you just cant take that chance in Dominica we need an international airport plain and simple

    • BiGmE
      February 29, 2012

      Stop people…. the placement of Dominica airport is not the worst in the Caribbean. Winds closes any airport international or not. I am not saying we do not need an international airport, but what if we had the international airport and the winds caused flights to be cancel today what would you say? Government waste money making a useless airport?

      • Bush the third
        March 1, 2012

        You would need a really nice wind to to cancel flights at an international airport. That little wind cant stop a plain from landing on a proper runway.

      • Fair and Balance
        March 1, 2012

        This is the most sensible comment I`ve read so far. High wind gust, snow,fog, smog all acts of nature closes major airports in the United States/ Canada causing major delays each and everyday. It happens all over so plz stop blaming the government for something they have no control over.Sometimes in life we just have to accept the thins we cannot chane, chane those we can and thank God no one ot hurt.

      • Fair and Balance
        March 1, 2012

        Correction the word is change

    • Anonymous
      February 29, 2012

      improving a runway and building an int’l airport is to different things…

  25. vanassa
    February 29, 2012

    no Liat asking for FAA to change they regulations what the want to kill people in those hight winds

  26. LITTLE DV
    February 29, 2012

    people should realize it’s best if the airlines cancel the flights to ensure their safety rather than allow it and risk the lives of the passengers and employees.

  27. 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 of doing this 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.

    This is the windy season in the Caribbean. Other airports have been affected in the same way as Melville Hall: G. Charles airport, Vigie, St. Lucia, Joshua Airport St. Vincent, Saba and St. Barth’s airports etc. Dont talk about Canefield. That is why February to Easter is the KITE season!

    • Hope
      February 29, 2012

      thanks for the sensible comment which educates people rather than bash others.

  28. tata
    February 29, 2012

    When it snows in london or new york planes are turn to other airports, whats the BIG DEAL.International or not.

    • Met Yo
      February 29, 2012

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

      Boy hear none sense. You want to compare snow on a runway to the issue at Marigot and the lack of an international airport?????

      Boy Dominicans are special people.

    • GWO Jan
      February 29, 2012

      Boy we really have some idiots out there. They go to develope countries and thier mind still shallow. Your only airport on the island cannot operate because of tail wind is premitive. and rediculous. There were previous evaluations that indicate the same yet this lame government decided that it was worth spending 120 million on the airport.I am still waiting to see the real improvement. The last time I traveled out of Melleville Hall I had to stand outside in the rain to go through security- don’t confuse that with curb side checking. I am talking about going through security.

    • Interesting Topic
      February 29, 2012

      What would be the other option for Dominica? Canefield? Not the best choice…

  29. Concerned citiizen
    February 29, 2012

    10 knots is about 11.5 miles per hour and a hurricane is 74 miles per hour… Just an observation!

  30. Concern Islander
    February 29, 2012

    It would be nice to have an international airport but we don’t at this time. High winds have nothing to do with an international airport or not. Lets obey the FAA regulation and not try to please a few. prevention is better than cure………..better to be safe than sorry. I fly into Melville Hall very often and i would like to know i am going to make it in safe.

    • NICEY
      February 29, 2012

      Agree with u 100%

    • jane
      February 29, 2012

      This is so true, many people choose to throw politics and ignorance into every topic and every situation, MY GOD what do you all want another accident. God forbid no. let the FAA do what is necessary by grounding the planes until it is safe. God bless dominica

      • NTSTYLEE
        February 29, 2012

        i totally agree

    • Hhhhhmmm
      February 29, 2012

      You ignorant or what??? High winds have nothing to do with an international airport but it has everything to do with the location of the airport! Sot you sot.

  31. concerned investor
    February 29, 2012

    Give me one reason why anyone should pay taxes to this Government?

    • Not Impressed
      February 29, 2012

      For such a silly comment, you ought to be paying DNO a subscription fee for the ability to post a comment!!

      • Hope
        February 29, 2012

        Well said :lol:

      • me
        March 1, 2012

        lol

  32. Hhhhhmmm
    February 29, 2012

    10 knots is what was and is established as safe. Raise it for what! To satisfy some that we have night landing and risk people life. Dominica needs an international airport. I am Dominica! Are you?

    • d
      February 29, 2012

      Could not have said it better. Was thinking the same. they really trying to get rid of dominicans

    • jane
      February 29, 2012

      I am 100% Dominican AND I SAY when it is time for an International airport it will come we don’t need to put ourselves under any unnecessary expense you see what is going on around you in this world crisis now it is time to CONSERVE NOT WASTE. DOMINICANS KEEP ON KEEPING ON DON’T LET IGNORANT PEOPLE DICTATE THEIR SELFISH WILLS ON YOU KEEP ON BEING ORIGINAL AND FORWARD THINKING DESPITE THE USELESS NOISE MAKERS.

      • Islandman
        February 29, 2012

        @Jane, it is the most garbage and backward thinking I have heard someone spit out in years. Do you have any idea of the economic benefits of an international airport? Clearly not with your present sentiments. Dominica has an extremely high unemployment rate,as a result an international airport will encourage investors into Dominica, boast Regional and International Tourism and significantly reduce the cost of living for Dominicans in the short, medium and long term. Please wake up and get in tune with the real world. Not because most of the infrastructure in Dominica is outdated, one has to be outdated and backward in their thinking…..Peace

  33. SiangUK
    February 29, 2012

    As for the comments, from the non-offical.

    He/She has merely reworded the comments of LIAT to colour this natural event.

    I am just waiting for another bright spark (like Gooseberry) to comment, that the rough seas that damaged the Pointe Michel sea wall works recently, is due to the Dominica Government.

  34. Citizen 1
    February 29, 2012

    That’s not why American was cancelled. The real reason was the flight was too late coming from San Juan and we all know American is not cleared for Night Flights so they would be too late for the flight too leave. They had to turn back. Check online and you would see how late the flight left San Juan yesterday afternoon.

    DNO you should do some verify your story 1st before you post it.

    • Concerned citiizen
      February 29, 2012

      I believe only half of what you are saying…a plane can depart at anytime… The problem is arrival. So maybe they would have problem landing in Dominica, but not departing. Landing is the most dangerous part of the flight experience!

      • Citizen 1
        February 29, 2012

        If they can’t land in the Night how can they even get clearance to Depart. Are you really thinking??? Imagine a baby trying to run before it can walk. Logic my friend, logic. Read a comment and try to understand it b4 you reply.

      • da massive
        February 29, 2012

        @ citizen 1 if it lands before sunset it certainly can take off at nights…the restrictions are not for taking off is for landing only..now pick up your mouth from the floor silly citezen

      • Concerned citiizen
        February 29, 2012

        Citizen 1…Yes! I am thinking. We are talking about American Eagle which does not land at night….So, as da Massive suggests “pick up your mouth from the floor”

  35. SiangUK
    February 29, 2012

    Gooseberry,

    Tell us how, building a new airport will stop high winds for happening.

    • possie long time
      February 29, 2012

      location monkey….bring it possie

      • ???
        February 29, 2012

        And when there is high winds in Portsmouth it will be moved to Roseau, idiot!!!

    • Met Yo
      February 29, 2012

      LOL. I wonder why high winds don’t prevent planes from landing in Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Kitts, Trinidad????

      • Kray Z S
        February 29, 2012

        Thank you Met Yo- We have so many backward thinking people in government and out of government. There are more than one report and feasibility analysis indicating that MelleVille Hall is not suited for advance air access operation yet the idiots decided to spend the money on Melleville Hall

      • da massive
        February 29, 2012

        i guess you dont listen to news..st vincent is going through the same thing.

      • NTSTYLEE
        February 29, 2012

        They don’t have mountains like DA have.

  36. Mahaut.
    February 29, 2012

    The 400 million that was just spent to “upgrade” the airport was a total waste of the limited funds we have in Dominica. Once again we are seeing the short sightedness of this Gov’t and lack of will power and dertermination to mordernize Dominica.
    An airport is all about the “length of the airstrip” and until this is not addressed, be it at Melville hall or some other location we will be behind our neighbours.
    For all those who are pushing tourism, Air access is the key to any developing nation. “Fix that.”

    • Cerberus
      February 29, 2012

      First of all the cost was not $400 million but closer to $150 million. Secondly, most of that was funded, first of all by the tax payers of the E.U. and secondly by Venezuela. We simply would not have been able to finance this ourselves in its entirety.

      • Met Yo
        February 29, 2012

        But howcome we would not be able to finance it? I thought Dominica doing so well and better than other countries? I thought we had so much extra money that we could lend to Anguilla and how much scene and scene?

        How come we cannot afford all of a sudden?

        The beautiful picture painted was for what?

        Oh wait I know….to achieve the 18-3…LOL

      • Anonymous
        March 1, 2012

        let me say something to u if u build a house in 2001 and build one in 2012 would the two cost the same thing?

    • Inspector
      February 29, 2012

      Well done!!! Dominica International Airport here I come!!!
      What stupidity in my country!

  37. tiny
    February 29, 2012

    ok i doh get it.. what if the flights were in the day….how would that be different…..would that mean there would be more available time for the plane to circle overhead until the wind speed/force is reduced? is it windier at nights? 8-O 8-O 8-O

    • tiny
      February 29, 2012

      and i said that because the people are asking/complaining that flights after sunset be stopped

    • Cerberus
      February 29, 2012

      Tiny, you really do have a tiny mental capacity. During day light hours planes can approach the runway from a westerly direction over the mountains, against the prevailing winds. First of all pilots can make a visual approach during the day and secondly it allows a plane to stop in shorter distance (…and should it be necessary to abort and do a “fligh-around” this can be safely done over the sea with no obstacles in the way.

      • tiny
        February 29, 2012

        so you mean they doh put lights on the mountains….oh my…thought that was so…how difficult is it to put a couple of light to on the mountains to guide the planes

    • da massive
      February 29, 2012

      during the day they have the option of landing from 09 (from the mountains) so they land into the wind which isnt as bad

  38. gooseberry
    February 29, 2012

    Yea. Allu and dat cochony government that refuse to build an international airport.

    Dominica still in the Dark Ages

    • Kazimi
      February 29, 2012

      With what funds?

      • Anonymous
        February 29, 2012

        you know where they getting!

    • bone
      February 29, 2012

      I thought this was a mattero of high winds and regulations of the FAA reference wind speed that is safe for flying?! So what does the government have to do with this. You all put politics in everything.

    • lives in antigua
      February 29, 2012

      Antigua has an international airport and flights were also cancelled due to high winds.

      • Mouth
        March 1, 2012

        So the flights still in the air?

    • Abbi
      February 29, 2012

      what does the government have to do with high winds…..lol if there was an international airport and the winds high plane still could not fly GOOSEBERRY………….SMH………………so basically and international airport would stop the high winds

    • NTSTYLEE
      February 29, 2012

      gooseberry, i guess it would be built with your (larpoo booder)

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