The newly commissioned Argyle International Airport (SVD/TVSA) in St. Vincent on Tuesday 21st of February 2017, faced the first true test of its operational capabilities in regards to the myriad of weather-related issues that plagued the old E. T. Joshua Airport (SVD/TVSV).
On Tuesday 21st, the situation across much of the OECS region was one where the wind direction had shifted and forced operations, both takeoffs and landings from the opposite of the normal directions.
Speaking with LIAT Corporate Communications Manager Mr. Shavar Maloney, he confirmed to CaribAviation that no cancellations or diversions occurred for LIAT in a situation that would have forced a complete meltdown of operations at the old E.T. Joshua Airport resulting in extremely delayed and cancelled flights.
High winds at E.T. Joshua frequently caused issues for aircraft chiefly for the fact that a Go-Around is a risky manoeuvre given the location of the airport.
Further the optimal take-off direction at E.T. Joshua was via Runway 07 into a headwind, but because of the mountains clustered to the North, East and West of the airport, that takeoff was restricted to the Boeing 727-200F aircraft utilised by Amerijet International due to the power and manoeuvring requirements for that takeoff.
All other aircraft departed via Runway 25 out to sea into what was a predominant tailwind, albeit slight.
That situation had caused the main carrier in St. Vincent, LIAT to frequently depart while leaving passengers luggage or in cases where the winds shifted direction to a tailwind from Runway 07 to completely cancel flights into the airport for safety reasons owing to the aforementioned geographical constraints at the former airport. (caribaviation.net)