Official approval of night landing to be given to Government today

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) has confirmed that it has approved night landing at the Melville Hall Airport.

The approval follows a series of test flights at the airport.

Acting Director General of the ECCAA Donald McPhail said government will receive the official approval today.

He said that approval will be granted in three phases.

“Phase one limits the operations to the Dash-8 300 which is the aircraft operated by LIAT will be the largest and smaller air crafts are able to go in. in phase one we placed certain restrictions to ensure that the level of safety at the airport exist. In phase two, some of these restrictions will be lifted and the larger air crafts will be allowed while in phase three will take it a little bit further,” he said.

A series of test flights have already been conducted and following one such operation last week, LIAT said it identified several concerns that needed to be reviewed by the Civil Aviation Authorities.

McPhail said the Civil Aviation Authority is satisfied that all the conditions have been met.

“We have received information from Dominica that they intend to open the airport from 6am until 10 pm. Our approval covers operation up to 10 o’clock or thereafter which prior permission from the authorities,” he said.

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44 Comments

  1. Homeboy
    August 27, 2010

    @Gene, Toronto: No one said competition wasn’t good! In fact if u understand. English you would reckon I am stating that LIAT is monopolizing the night landing so far to not cause them to compete!

  2. country bookie
    August 27, 2010

    country …countyr bookie countryy…….my godd……….lets get passs this please…..the way allu sounding is like dominica alone that have NIGHT LANDING…MY GODDDDD…….them politicianss working on alluu mindss wit those petty thignss…..com on…..

  3. UPTOWN REBEL!!!
    August 27, 2010

    In any event,since Dominica is about to make history,by having it’s first official night landing at Melville Hall Airport,and knowing that Liat have couple of very good Captains from Dominica, who flies for them. Nothing would be more appropriate than having a Dominican pilot(Captain) be the first to land an aircraft in Dominica at night. LIAT,can you please see to it that this is so in the inaugural flight?.
    How about it Mr.Minister,or PM, or whom ever,can you get in contact with Liat’s officials,or representative, and make such a request?..I am quite sure,that LIAT will be more than happy to comply,or oblidge you.

    I am very much into Nationalism….After all, let it be a Domincan pilot to make history, as the first. Making history along with Dominica.That would be very fitting.
    I know one particular, very brilliant young LIAT Captain from Dominica, and who by the way,.just happens to be my brother-in-law (lol). No ,no,not because of that but because i know he is good,very good.The truth of the matter is, in all likelihood, he is one of the best they’ve got. And he just happens to be a Dominican,which makes it even better.
    I am keeping my fingers crossed,and i will be hoping, and rooting.
    All the Best………..

  4. DOMINICAN DOLPHIN
    August 27, 2010

    Goodness me…………..why does every area of life in “Dominica” have to involve some sort of political inuendo or view and name calling regarding someone in the political arena?!

    Wake up Dominicans and stop this nonesense as while you are wasting time on such trivialities of who supports who and all the rest of the foolishness, some tiny islands (alot smaller than Dominica) is fast passing on by!

    Grow up for god’s sake and focus on the important things that will without a bias view benefit the islands’ development and advancement, as after all I thought that is what we are all striving for isn’t it?!

  5. DOMINICAN DOLPHIN
    August 27, 2010

    Kudos to you my dear and although I have to admit that I won’t be at the front of the queue just yet, I do hope that the good lord above guides and protect each and every human being on the first flights and any subsequent ones there after.

    As times goes by, let’s hope that the necessary technologies and services that are not already in place to make the entire operation work will be soon implemented in order for the smooth progression on to the next level, which stands to be of great benefit to our beloved “Nature Isle” DOMINICA in so many ways, we a number of us haven’t even begun to envision.

    On a slightly different note away from the night landing issue, it would be great to see the new modern food court in the airport actually opened up before long, as that little porter cabin is like an eyesore with very little room to move.

    LET US ALL DOMINICANS AND FRIENDS OF DOMINICA, CONTINUE TO GET DOWN ON OUR KNEES AND PRAY HARD, THAT ALL THOSE PLANS GO SMOOTHLY AND SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE OF THE UPTIMUM IMPORTANCE IN THIS NEW CHAPTER IN THE ISLANDS.’ PROGRESSION.

  6. Charles
    August 27, 2010

    What greatly concerns me is not the night landing in Dominica, but the issue of luggage, why do Liat do not adhere to international safety regulations, a carrier should not fly without the luggage owner being on the aircraft. My experience in England, if a suitcase is loaded on to an aircraft and the owner is not on the aircraft the suitcase is removed, so please Liat cease this practice of putting people on an aircraft with strangers luggage for all I care it could be a bomb the terrorist does not discriminate.

    God bless our beautiful unspoilt Island

  7. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @Homeboy:

    Competition is necessary and good for the country and could produce better overall service.

  8. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @Edison James:

    You say, you thank the government, not Skerrit. Is the Prime Minister, Skerrit not the leader and the government. You are talking a lot of nonsense and contradicting yourself.

  9. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @mango jim:

    Oh no! God forbid! We hope not! What is needed are bigger planes to hold passengers luggage, if that were possible.
    Once when I travelled to D/ca from Toronto via Barbados our luggage did not arrive until next day. This was some experience which I hope never happened to me again. We were travelling to D/ca for a special function. This was the first time it happened to me. Another person’s luggage arrived two days later.
    At another time, someone who resides in Toronto informed me, while in D/ca that her luggage did not arrive for the length of time she stayed in D/ca, approximately 3 weeks.
    We are advised to keep an overnight bag with us on the plane. In this day and age after 9/11, certain items are prohibited on the planes.
    With night landing, we do hope that the luggage will arrive with the passengers.

  10. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @mac:
    Freedom of right, of speech and of writing. You may have a right to state what you have stated. However, do not be negative. There are some people who always think of the worst. Due to their negativity, they could place a curse and a damper on plans. Be positive. You either drive or walk the streets and anything could happen to anyone at anytime.
    Whenever I travel, be it by land or air or crossing the street, I pray and ask God for His divine protection. I also do this prior to travelling anywhere. Try doing that and for the night flights.

    As I was about to end this writing, I got the inclination (hopefully through inspiration) to type the following Psalm for your benefit, you negative person. You sound like a person with no hope. Have faith, hope and trust in God. All lies in His hands. As the song: “Que, Sera, Sera …What ever will be, will be, the future’s not ours to see (you see)…” Cease your imaginings.

    The Lord My Guardian

    I raise my eyes toward the mountains.
    From where will my help come?
    My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

    God will not allow your foot to slip; your guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.
    The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
    By day the sun cannot harm you, nor the moon by night.
    The Lord will guard you from all evil, will always guard your life.
    The Lord will guard your coming and going both now and forever.

    The above is a favorite prayer of mine specifically when travelling on the highways.

    This could be prayed daily under any circumstance. Also Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd. You are also obligated to pray for others. God expects this of us.

  11. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @Ryon:
    You are correct! Pilots, airline hostesses and passengers lives are at stake. Therefore, approval of safety must be given prior to approving night landing.

  12. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @Ryon:
    That is true. Dominica is mountainous, hilly and rocky.

  13. Gene, Toronto
    August 26, 2010

    @Ryon:
    Do not pray and yearn for it… (smile)

  14. Ryon
    August 26, 2010

    I want to be on the first LIAT Night to Dominica.

  15. Ryon
    August 26, 2010

    @anonymous: It seems like you listen to too much road talk and not the news. The paving of the rods will come , the government mentioned it. It’s not easy to pave roads on Dominica. Give the Government a chance atleast it is paved but they will make it better.

  16. Ryon
    August 26, 2010

    @Edison James: You are such a bad immitator and please , just because i’m a DLP fan, I will not allow you to insult Honourable Eddison James like that. BE YOURSELF.

  17. Ryon
    August 26, 2010

    @mac: You didn’t know that the FAA was involved in the aproval of Night landing in Dominica? Every action taken regarding this issue is governed by the International Aviation Authourity so , it is safe.

  18. excited
    August 26, 2010

    @Edison James:

    If you are going to imitate my parl rep, then surely you must improve on your English. That is an insult to the eloquence of the man.

  19. mac
    August 26, 2010

    @Edison James:@Anti-hate: uneducated people like you who don’t have nothing to say should not even be allowed to have a computer make a ponnt not just repeating like a parrot

  20. mac
    August 26, 2010

    The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) has confirmed that it has approved night landing at the Melville Hall Airport. THAT IS GREAT BUT THAT IS ONLY THE Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL Civil Aviation Authority, In the Caribbean we take short cuts to every thing sometimes with grave Consequence,THERE REGULATIONS WHICH ARE IGNORED SUCH AS TWO WAY LANDING AND TAKE OFF’S, THEN WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AND INSURANCE REFUSE TO PAY OUT WE WANDER WHY, HAS LIAT LANDED AT NIGHT IN DOMINICA? WHY DO YOU THINK THEY HAVEN’T AND WHAT ABOUT THE EAGLE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE REGULATIONS REGARDING NIGHT LANDING

    ps I am all for progress in Dominica but as a safety officer i have to express my views

  21. PROUD NATIONAL
    August 26, 2010

    STOP HATING WE ARE DOING THE NIGHT LANDING. TAKE THAT ALL U HATERS

  22. mango jim
    August 26, 2010

    Whilst we may now fly at night, our luggage will probably still hang on until breakfast.

  23. Edison James
    August 26, 2010

    so far we have seen great improvement at the airport. i thank the government of Dominica not skerrit for making this become a reality despite our opposition. We there solicite greater need to improve the road conditions in the marigot consitutency.

    thanks God these has become a realiity. these does not mean for more bribery in the next coming Election. Mr skerrit you have done quite well so far to bring Dominca to the next level.

    I certainly will not be flying in the night unless u Mr. skerrit have done so.

  24. Homeboy
    August 26, 2010

    Bravo Zulu DA.. I hope this first phase does not last 2 long. I want more airlines, not just LIAT to have night access..

  25. Madam Speak it
    August 26, 2010

    So long Dominica has night landing. All the time Mr Skerroooo leaving the country at 2 am sometimes 3 am from canefield on his private helicopter

  26. sumthing's happening
    August 26, 2010

    @ZERO who made u so dumb???

  27. true dominican
    August 26, 2010

    TO your mr hater !!!!!!!!!!!STOP IT NOW.stop being a cry cry baby your pamper days are over ………..stop carrying a heavy load on your chest fot it will cause you to get sick.now is the time to come together and build our beautiful dominica.no time for your childish talk .
    byeeeeeeeeeeeee

  28. anonymous
    August 26, 2010

    THIS IS NOT THE PM PRAISE ALONE HE DID NOT START THIS YOU FOOLS
    IT IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF DOMINICA.
    HE NEED TO FIX THOSE CRAPPY ROADS

  29. August 26, 2010

    HURRAY HURRAY FOR DOMINICA NOW THAT IS WHAT YOU CAL PROGRESS WHO VEX VEX ESPECIALLY TO THE UWP HATERS.

  30. August 26, 2010

    Great job, let’s keep going forward.

  31. MB
    August 26, 2010

    People no need to worry everything will be fine . We ask for changes and chnages has arrived. With all that was said Melville Hall Airport is not on the list of the world most dangerous airport. we should be prould as a nation that we will have the oppurtunity to reach home the same day and not have to over night in Antigua Barbados or St Lucia. the only way to get to Dominica the same day when flying from New York is through Saun Juan you better pray that AA flight 769 get their on time or else u will be force to sleep on those hard chairs in Saun Juan like I did. You can only be successful if you tired. The govenment has tried lets hope for success. Wether you are a workers a labourite a freedmite or what ever you may this is time to spread the good news. I know for sure when our asses are stuck in a foreign country no party color can come to your resque. Give thanks I will be on the night flight.

  32. malaba83
    August 26, 2010

    GREAT JOB DA…….

  33. anonymous
    August 26, 2010

    @j,
    Let’s pray that you always pray regardless of the time or circumstances under which you board a flight to anywhere in the world.
    That said, it is a beginning. We have to start somewhere.

  34. H-town massive
    August 26, 2010

    Lord why dont they start next week or sometime before the 8th…..so i wont have to overnight in Barbados!!!

    I am so happy….proud of Dominica

  35. diskette
    August 26, 2010

    I want to be believe that ECCAA is in fact a professional body and will not misled us knowing that all former reports from the experts point to the fact that night landing at Melville Hall will not be feasible not that it is or was not possible but not feasible- and that is not being political because it came from expert reports from the British, French, Cubans, Venezuelans;etc they are all there to see and read. What then has changed over the years therefore may have to do with improvements in aircraft aviation technology including aircraft performance and avionics improvements and NAVAID technology , also higher levels of training for aviation personnel; -therefore congrats to the Government and people of Dominica for arriving at this milestone; I suspect that some of the conditions and restrictions spoken to will include but will not be limited to the type of aircraft in that case the DHC8-300 series and below, but also the certification/rating of pilots – only checked pilots may be allowed to operate commercially into the field- there may be a set critirea for operating based the conducive field conditions or minimums below which level they may not be allowed to operate – example tail wind component;wet runway, weather minimums including cloud cover or base; reduce visibility; some other restrictions would probably include landing weight restrictions that would have implications for pay load -example baggage – passengers etc – AA has similar restriction for operations in the day time; on marginal nights where flights have to be diverted or cancelled I guess some cost sharing between the local Authorities and LIAT will have to be negotiated because it will not be the fault of the airline if the pilots can’t land because of marginal conditions – therefore some of us will still end up overnighting at some point in time if not more often than not especially in the rainy periods. On the operational side proper auxilliary back ups that meets standards as required by international standards may have to put in place; high levels of efficiency on the operators/owner of the airport-we know for a fact that fire service is not yet up to speed with there response in terms of the availability of personnel and firefighting compounds I believe it is foam it is called- therefore the operator has to get its act together etc
    The fact that the approval is being planned in stages suggest that the authorities are still not a hundred percent comfortable with the decision to approve; therefore one has to be very cautious in celebrating as one mishap or oversight may just change the equation in that sense. Having said all of that I am willing to be on a night flight coming in that is when and once the conditions are ideal but I am also prepared to accept that there are going to occassions when these conditions can change suddenly and flights will not be able to land as obtains in day light operations and therefore I will have to overnight. somewhere;

    Thanks for the opportunity..

  36. RC
    August 26, 2010

    Congratulations Dominica.
    Its a step in the right direction whilst we continue working to devolop a larger facility which may take a few years. Let us hope that all of us Dominicans do our utmost to ensure that the opportunity afforded us work in our collective interest. Of course there will be anxious moments and we would like to see LIIAT land many times and take off many times before we get accustomed. We are only human. It is a natural feeling. Now the possibility of coming home the same day I leave Jamaica for example is here. LIAT now has to put on the late flight, say 6:30 pm out of Antigua or 5;00 out of Barbados and we will be home without having to go to Barbados. We can leave Dominica for example at 5:00 am (still dark) ow and get to Puerto Rico and conect to the mainland at a suffcieintly early enough time rather than the Puerto Rico connection at 5:00 pm, getting to NY at 12:00 midnight.

    Congrats Mr. Prime Minister. Well done

  37. Felix
    August 26, 2010

    God Bless the Commonwealth of Dominica, its people and its Government.

    Long Live the PM

  38. j
    August 26, 2010

    lets pray that all landings will be safe.

  39. hope
    August 26, 2010

    i am so proud to be a Dominican!

  40. hmmmmmmm
    August 26, 2010

    good good pm keep it up

  41. ZERO
    August 26, 2010

    Government officials should lead by example,and be on some of these early inaugural flights..This gimmickry at Melvillehall, is a waste of money and will never substitute for an international airport.Thing is this constellation of inept clowns has no idea of what it is to lead and/or manage the resources of the country,and therefore it’s being blown away,while poverty is reigning supreme on the island For this we are paying, and will pay a heavy price for generations to come….

  42. Anti-hate
    August 26, 2010

    Another W for Dominica and the DLP.

    UWP haters of progress, eat your heart out…..

  43. yout
    August 26, 2010

    yeeeeahhhhhhhh!!!!

  44. yes iiiiiiii
    August 26, 2010

    yes iiiiiiii, all you didnt say the PM not telling the truth na we not getting no light landing

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