Visibility at night a problem, say pilots
AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
One-third of the lightbulbs at Suvarnabhumi airport are not working, causing visibility problems at night, and Airports of Thailand (AoT) has sought special procurement approval to improve lighting on the taxiways.
AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said the airport is speeding up a process to acquire almost 2,000 more lightbulbs, which are expected to reach it as soon as next month.
He said the problem occurred before he took office and is related to the procurement, which is monopolised by one company. An amendment would be introduced to allow AoT to choose from other companies, he said.
The damaged lightbulbs account for one-third of the total system. International standards demand that damaged or dysfunctional lightbulbs should not exceed 10% of the total number, which is 7,600, an AoT source said.
Many of the lights, which are supposed to last for 1,000 hours, have expired while others were hit and broken by aircraft because, according to the source, the lights are larger than normal.
The problem started when the airport opened in September 2006.
In April last year, the number of damaged or expired lightbulbs was put at more than 700 and the airport asked for a budget for the replacements, which cost 70-80 million baht. But faced with a procurement problem as well as a budget cut, the number has escalated to almost 2,000, the source said.
The source said the AoT initially responded to the problem by taking lightbulbs from non-operational runways to replace the damaged or expired ones. Lights along the taxiways have also been switched on alternately.
The source played down concerns over safety, saying each good lightbulb is within 60 metres of another, meeting international standards.
Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan acknowledged the problem.
Mr Chaisak said the issue was raised during an Airports of Thailand board meeting when he was still a member.
The delay in fixing the broken lights occurred because AoT placed an order for many lightbulbs at one time, he said.
Mr Chaisak said he had once suggested AoT change its buying method.
Instead of ordering a large number of lightbulbs at the same time, he said, AoT should buy smaller numbers of replacement stock periodically, when only some bulbs were not functioning.
''We have to quickly solve the problem,'' said Mr Chaisak.
''The more we delay, the more damage it may cause.''
ACM Chana said he would quickly solve the problem, also adding the present contract between the AoT and a lighting producer required the airport company to buy the bulbs from one contractor.
However, the source said the monopoly was deemed unavoidable as there are only two airport lighting firms, the US-based Crouse Hinds company and the Belgium-based ADB.
Besides, the procurement was made through IOT Joint Venture.
The source said the monopoly was not a problem _ it was a management problem as the agency did not stock spares due to budget cuts.
Pilots have said there is no problem during the day, but they have to be careful when taking planes in and out of parking bays at night and during heavy rain.
Thai Airways International pilot Thanit Promsathit said the present condition was not considered dangerous, but asked AoT to solve the problem to ensure safety.
''Their actions will reflect the image of our country,'' he said.
Since it opened, Suvarnabhumi has been plagued with troubles including cracks on runways and leaking roofs. These problems have been thoroughly examined by a special AoT committee to see if there are irregularities.
The investigation has made AoT staff reluctant to continue their routines, including the process to buy new lightbulbs, said the source.
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AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK
One-third of the lightbulbs at Suvarnabhumi airport are not working, causing visibility problems at night, and Airports of Thailand (AoT) has sought special procurement approval to improve lighting on the taxiways.
AoT president Chana U-sathaporn said the airport is speeding up a process to acquire almost 2,000 more lightbulbs, which are expected to reach it as soon as next month.
He said the problem occurred before he took office and is related to the procurement, which is monopolised by one company. An amendment would be introduced to allow AoT to choose from other companies, he said.
The damaged lightbulbs account for one-third of the total system. International standards demand that damaged or dysfunctional lightbulbs should not exceed 10% of the total number, which is 7,600, an AoT source said.
Many of the lights, which are supposed to last for 1,000 hours, have expired while others were hit and broken by aircraft because, according to the source, the lights are larger than normal.
The problem started when the airport opened in September 2006.
In April last year, the number of damaged or expired lightbulbs was put at more than 700 and the airport asked for a budget for the replacements, which cost 70-80 million baht. But faced with a procurement problem as well as a budget cut, the number has escalated to almost 2,000, the source said.
The source said the AoT initially responded to the problem by taking lightbulbs from non-operational runways to replace the damaged or expired ones. Lights along the taxiways have also been switched on alternately.
The source played down concerns over safety, saying each good lightbulb is within 60 metres of another, meeting international standards.
Civil Aviation Department chief Chaisak Angsuwan acknowledged the problem.
Mr Chaisak said the issue was raised during an Airports of Thailand board meeting when he was still a member.
The delay in fixing the broken lights occurred because AoT placed an order for many lightbulbs at one time, he said.
Mr Chaisak said he had once suggested AoT change its buying method.
Instead of ordering a large number of lightbulbs at the same time, he said, AoT should buy smaller numbers of replacement stock periodically, when only some bulbs were not functioning.
''We have to quickly solve the problem,'' said Mr Chaisak.
''The more we delay, the more damage it may cause.''
ACM Chana said he would quickly solve the problem, also adding the present contract between the AoT and a lighting producer required the airport company to buy the bulbs from one contractor.
However, the source said the monopoly was deemed unavoidable as there are only two airport lighting firms, the US-based Crouse Hinds company and the Belgium-based ADB.
Besides, the procurement was made through IOT Joint Venture.
The source said the monopoly was not a problem _ it was a management problem as the agency did not stock spares due to budget cuts.
Pilots have said there is no problem during the day, but they have to be careful when taking planes in and out of parking bays at night and during heavy rain.
Thai Airways International pilot Thanit Promsathit said the present condition was not considered dangerous, but asked AoT to solve the problem to ensure safety.
''Their actions will reflect the image of our country,'' he said.
Since it opened, Suvarnabhumi has been plagued with troubles including cracks on runways and leaking roofs. These problems have been thoroughly examined by a special AoT committee to see if there are irregularities.
The investigation has made AoT staff reluctant to continue their routines, including the process to buy new lightbulbs, said the source.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
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