Fog Creates Havoc At Airport But New Instrument Landing System Keeps About Half The Flights In Operation

Fog grounded or diverted about half of the flights going in and out of Spokane International Airport on Friday.

But the airport’s new instrument landing system, which went on line Nov. 6, kept Spokane air traffic from coming to a halt, airport spokesman Todd Woodard said.

“We would have had no flights in or out today without that equipment,” Woodard said.

Instead, people flying on Alaska and Southwest airlines traveled without any cancellations, even though the fog kept runway visibility at 700 to 1,000 feet.

The new landing system helps certified pilots on equipped planes maneuver with as little as 600 feet of visibility.

Without the equipment, the Federal Aviation Administration requires runway visibility of 1,600 feet to take off and land.

“This is allowing us to get planes in that two months ago would have never made it,” said Dennis Locke, director of aviation operations for Spokane airports.

Friday was the first major test of the equipment.

The new system provides pilots with specific landing coordinates and guides a plane through an approach lighting system, Locke said.

Twenty-two flights from carriers other than Alaska and Southwest were grounded or diverted Friday because crews were not certified to use the landing system or the planes were not equipped to land in fog.

Travel out of Spokane this time of year has always been at the mercy of Mother Nature.

“We live in a part of the country that experiences fog. We’ve had a long history of fog,” Woodard said.

“This time of year, it’s always hard to predict the weather.”

Fog in Seattle also is holding up Spokane air traffic.

Woodard asks that travelers not call the airport, but check flight information with individual airlines.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Flight information Travelers should check on their flights at the following numbers: Air Canada: 1-800-776-3000 Alaska Airlines: 1-800-426-0333 Delta Air Lines: 1-800-221-1212 Horizon Air: 1-800-547-9308 Northwest Airlines: 1-800-225-2525 Southwest Airlines: 1-800-435-9792 United Airlines/Shuttle By United: 1-800-241-6522