Monday 17 April 2023
Contingency plans have been put in place to provide medical air transfers (medevac) for Bailiwick residents during the closure of Guernsey and Alderney airports for essential maintenance.
Alderney airport will close overnight between the 18th and 26th April 2023. This will allow uninterrupted access each night for aerodrome pavement specialists Amco-Giffen to carry out essential patch repairs on the runway.
Critically ill patients will be transferred from Alderney by helicopter but during the closures the helicopter will not land at the airport.
Two alternative landing sites exist, one at Les Butes and one at Braye common. Based on the prevailing conditions the landing site will be decided when the flight is being planned and secured while the helicopter uses the landing site.
Guernsey Airport will close overnight between 24th April and 1st May 2023. This will provide the Guernsey Ports engineering teams and specialist contractors with uninterrupted access, to carry out planned essential maintenance on the aeronautical ground lighting systems.
During this period a civilian helicopter will be stationed at Guernsey airport. When the airport closes, the helicopter will operate from Port Soif car park. A civilian helicopter will be used to reduce the time that search and rescue assets are off station.
Port Soif car park will be closed to the public between 8pm and 7am between the 24 April and 1 May 2023 and security arrangements will be in place overnight while the helicopter is located there.
Terry Coule, Resilience and Planning Officer, HSC said:
'The team involved in the advanced planning would like to thank islanders for their understanding while these alternative measures are in place and to respectfully ask them to avoid these landing sites while they are in use.'
