PRESS RELEASE Release date: 17th July 2013 Guernsey Airport improves
runway safety with Pollite frangible approach masts Guernsey
Airport is taking action to improve runway safety, after investing in new
green frangible approach masts from UK manufacturer, Pollite Ltd, as part of
a wider £80million runway redevelopment. The
masts will be used to house brand new airfield ground lighting, which has
been purchased as part of Guernsey’s ‘Airport 2040’ project. The deal marks
the launch of Pollite’s brand new mid-hinged pole, specially designed with
two hinges attached either side of the mast to enable it to be scaled down
for easy maintenance. This
is the first time that Pollite has been asked to design and manufacture
frangible approach masts that do not follow the global ‘Aviation Yellow’
colour pattern. Instead, the masts at Guernsey Airport are covered with a
green gel coat, in order to blend in with the natural environment. Airport
Director Colin le Ray explained why Guernsey Airport requested green masts: “The
typical aviation yellow masts would have been a complete contrast to the
areas surrounding the runway. For this reason, the approach masts needed to
be green as well as conforming to a defined, appropriate RAL standard
colour.” The
rural surroundings of Guernsey Airport’s runway presented Pollite with a
number of challenges during the design process. The uneven topography of the
landscape meant that extra attention had to be given to ensure that all
lights would be raised to the correct levels upon installation. The masts
also had to be carefully designed and erected in order to minimise their
environmental impact. The design stage involved extensive consultation with
the consultant RPS Gregory and the electrical contractor Environ. During
the installation phase, the vehicles that transported the masts to the runway
had to travel through narrow roads and villages. A particular benefit of
Pollite’s design process is the fact the company includes as minimal an
amount of parts as possible when shipping and all masts are lightweight to
ensure quick and easy installation. Frangible
approach masts are integral to global runway safety and Pollite manufactures
all products to always break, yield or distort upon any contact with
aircraft, causing minimal damage. Frangibility is guaranteed because
Pollite’s product complies with both International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards on
frangibility. Pollite’s
masts are a major part of Guernsey Airport’s Project 2040 initiative which
also includes re-profiling and resurfacing of the runway and taxiways,
which is already underway, an extension of the Runway End Safety Areas
(RESA), and reconstruction of the concrete apron areas where aircraft park. It
is just one of a number of orders that Pollite has secured recently for its
range of frangible approach masts, windsock masts and anemometer masts. The
company is also busy fulfilling an order for new approach masts for
Birmingham Airport’s Runway 33 extension, responding to a repeat order for
noise monitoring masts for Dubai Airport, and completing an order for two
approaches at RAF Scampton. At a time when runway safety has never been
higher on the global airport agenda, with new airport builds in places such
as India, Russia and the Middle East, Anders Jersby, Sales and Business
Development Manager at Pollite, is delighted to be responding to global
demand. “We
have had a really busy year so far and are fulfilling orders from all over
the world for our frangible products. Key to our success is the unique way in
which our products are rigorously tested for frangibility compliance. Every
product we manufacture is tested to ensure it has no electromagnetic
interference, is weather and temperature resistant, corrosion and maintenance
free. Once installed, a frangible mast from Pollite is highly durable and
does its bit to improve runway safety for long periods of time.” -ENDS- |