Airport Authority undertakes crucial vegetation management exercise this weekend as Airfield Upgrade enters final phase

The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, in consultation with key stakeholders and the relevant government agencies, will be leading an exercise to remove three Mahagony trees along the Sir George Walter Highway this Sunday.

The tree removal exercise will begin at around G:30am under the supervision of the relevant agencies, including the Police’s Traffic Department to ensure the uninterrupted flow of traffic along the Sir George Walter Highway.

As the US$50 million airfield rehabilitation project enters its final stages, aircraft will soon begin utilising the full length of the runway. The trees however have been identified as an obstruction to the clear line of sight required between the Air Traffic Control Tower and the western end of the airfield and therefore must be removed.

Over the years, numerous efforts were made to mitigate the risks associated with the trees through pruning and ongoing maintenance activities. The Airport Authority and its stakeholders carefully considered a number of alternatives. Removing them was the last and only remaining resort.

According to the ABAA’s Director of Operations, Joseph Samuel, the trees present a hazard to air traffic management operations as they do not allow for complete and effective visual surveillance of aircraft movements by the air traffic controllers.

“Unobstructed visibility is essential for the safe and efficient management of aircraft operations on and around the runway,” Mr. Samuel explained.

The exercise is therefore crucial for the team of officers in the control tower who must at all times benefit from an unobstructed view of the entire runway to safely perform their duties in adherence with ICAO standards.

According to Acting Chief of Air Traffic Services Eugene Silcott, any compromise to this visibility constitutes a significant safety hazard that can increase the risk of aircraft incidents or accidents.

“One of the primary responsibilities of an air traffic controller is to prevent collisions between aircraft and other aircraft, vehicles, personnel, or obstacles on the maneuvering area,” Silcott explained.

In addition to monitoring aircraft movements, our air traffic controllers must also remain vigilant for the presence of wildlife and animals within the airport boundaries. The ability to detect such hazards before issuing landing or departure clearances is essential to maintaining a safe operating environment,” he further noted.

“Safety remains, and must always remain, our highest priority,” the air traffic control expert stressed.

The ABAA recognises that many Antiguans and Barbudans hold a special sentimental attachment to our Mahagony trees. The decision to remove them therefore was not taken lightly and came after careful and thoughtful planning by consulting with key agencies, including the Forestry Unit within the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment Division.

A comprehensive assessment was conducted by the Forestry Unit, with the findings subsequently confirmed by Senior Forestry Officer Adriel Thibou. The assessment identified evidence of termite activity and structural deterioration that has significantly weakened the trees, increasing the likelihood that they could fall.

The assessment further determined that the location, height, and canopy spread of the trees encroach on protected aviation safety surfaces and create an unacceptable level of risk to aircraft operations, road users, airport personnel, and the travelling public. The risk is further compounded by their proximity to the highway and their susceptibility to failure during adverse weather conditions.

“Their removal is necessary to eliminate unacceptable hazards, protect human life, and preserve the operational integrity of VC Bird International Airport. This approach aligns with both international aviation safety standards and local forestry best practices, reflecting a precautionary principle that prioritizes safety, visibility, and unobstructed airspace,” the report concluded.

The Airport Authority is also collaborating with the Forestry Unit and the Environmental Division in the replanting of several trees new trees in approved locations as a result of the loss of the three Mahagony trees.

In addition, the authority will be funding the repurposing of the wood from the removed trees into functional and commemorative features that will help to preserve an important connection to the site’s natural history. According to Samuel, “This underscores the ABAA’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. While aviation safety is foremost, we also must ensure that our operations are guided by sustainable and proper environmental practices.”

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