Since last August 10, a new air navigation procedure for Recife Airport, the RNP-AR, has come into force, which allows operation with a minimum visibility of up to 100 meters in height and 1.400 meters away from the landing strip. The measure offers an advance in relation to the 150 meters of height and 2.200 meters of distance, necessary before this measure. The procedure works through geolocation equipment onboard the aircraft and requires qualified crew to use it, usually available on most flights arriving in Recife. 

In addition to the new procedure, measures are in progress for the complete reconnection of the ILS, a system managed by the air navigation units and which allows the approach by instruments on the ground, informing the location of the runway and the landing ramp. Adjustment and calibration work should be completed in about 20 days, followed by the deadlines for preparing and publishing new navigation charts. The ILS will allow operations with a minimum visibility of around 70 meters high and 1.200 meters away, an additional gain smaller than that obtained now with the new RNP-AR procedure.  

The ILS is neither mandatory equipment nor a requirement of the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) for the concession or for the operation of Recife Airport. From May until now, even with a more restricted operational ceiling, only 0,7% of flights were switched to other airports or cancelled, a total of 128 flights among 17.773 operations. 
 

Understand the case 

As the runway underwent improvements, including the installation of safety zones that did not exist before, such as the Runway Escape Safety Areas (RESAs), one of the ILS equipment (Glide) needs to be moved to work according to the new location of the threshold. At the end of May, in order to comply with the contractual obligations of the concession, the runway threshold had to be relocated and the Glide deactivated. The shutdown is essential until the process of analyzing the repositioning of the equipment and the revision of the navigation charts by the air navigation bodies, which are in progress, are concluded. If the equipment remained on, it could mislead pilots. Aena has been holding meetings and exchanging documents with the competent bodies since the second quarter of 2022, and finally, on December 16, it opened the adjustment process with CINDACTA III. Between May and June, adjustments to the project were requested and delivered by the airport.  
 

Art Works 

Investments made by Aena have promoted a major transformation at Recife Airport. In the six airfields it manages in the Northeast, the concessionaire is investing around BRL 1,4 billion in works, and BRL 500 million in services, systems, equipment and other maintenance. As a result, Recife will have an even safer airport, with 60% more operational capacity, a new pier for international flights with four boarding bridges, an inspection channel and an automated baggage system, a renewed and more varied commercial mix, expanded spaces, more comfortable and functional, among many other improvements. 
 

CONTROL  

Recife International Airport has an excellent track record of punctuality and services, having reached positions among the best in the world and in Brazil on several occasions. See some of the recognitions and awards:  

– Most punctual in the world in its category, and second best in the world in the overall score, in March 2023 – The On-Time Performance Monthly Report Airports – Cirium. 

– Most punctual in Brazil and fourth best in the world in its category, in January 2023 – The On-Time Performance Monthly Report Airports – Cirium. 

– Aviação Mais Brasil Award, from the Ministry of Ports and Airports, as the most punctual in the country in the category between 5 and 10 million passengers a year, in 2021 and 2022. 

– Second best airport in the world in 2022, in the Air Help Score report, prepared by AirHelp Consulting. 

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Street: aena brazil