Phase 1 complete of HIAL NDB replacement Programme

Systems Interface Engineers successfully installed and commissioned the first three, of seven, Non-Directional Beacons (NDB) for HIAL at Inverness, Campbeltown and Benbecula Airports.

Despite storms Dennis, Ciara and Jorge providing trying installation conditions, Phase 1 was completed ahead of schedule over a three week period with all NDB’s entering Operational Service.

Phase 2 will commence in April with the replacement of Barra Airport and Kirkwall airport NDB’s.

Systems Interface is scheduled to complete the replacement programme over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022

The replacement programme is due to a UK wide Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range Beacon (DVOR) rationalisation project, whereby many DVOR guidance facilities will be either withdrawn or become unsupported. As a result, the NDBs will be the only means of navigating to the Airports and conducting an approach if an aircraft is not GPS equipped or the GPS signal is unavailable.

About Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL)

HIAL is a limited company wholly owned by the Scottish Government. It owns and operates 11 airports in the Scottish Highlands and the Northern Isles and Western Isles. It handles over 1.7 million passengers a year and employs around 620 people across the 11 airports.