EGNOS launch now at 'final hurdle'
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group is at the final hurdle for the introduction of satellite navigation system EGNOS.
Speaking at Scilly Business Week, MD Stuart Reid said applications to the Civil Aviation Authority for the remaining three runways at Lands' End were submitted earlier this month.
He said: "EGNOS has been going on a long time now, since September 2011... that's because we, along with St Mary's Airport, are really at the forefront of delivering this in the UK.
"The first of the four runways at Land's End was approved back in March 2015, which leaves three of he remaining runways. We've really had a drive on this over the last six months. We had a three-month trial period which finished on February 12th 2019, where we conducted over 70 flights using the new GNSS approaches into Land's End.
"So we are really now at the final hurdle. Application was submitted to the CAA for three remaining runways on March 11th 2019, we're just waiting to hear back from the CAA to get the agreement to commence."
Stuart said the new system will allow Skybus pilots to land up to an extra 400 flights into Land's End each year.
He added: "It's really going to improve the number of flights arriving in adverse weather conditions. [Starting this] will be a real benchmark, something really to look forward to."