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How Safe Is
The Tobías Bolaños Airport in Pavas?
Constant ripples in the air above,
residences all around, obstacles on approach
and climate conditions, are some of the
risks facing pilots at the small
international airport on the west side of
San Jose.
According to Diego Gutiérrez of the
Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación
Civil - accident investigations department
at Civil Aviation - there have been five
accidents, one inside the airport, since
2004.
The latest accident recorded by the airport
was last week (May 16,
see story) when Héctor Luis Sosa López had to take down his
small aircraft on the Circunvalación, in La
Uruca, when he experienced engine problems.
The aircraft touched the roof of the only
vehicle on the road at the time, causing
damage to the vehicle, but no injuries. Sosa
López, the 21 year old pilot, says his
engine shut down forcing a landing on the
highway. Aviación Civil is investigating.
Jorge Fernández, director of Aviación Civil,
says that there are risk factors at all
inner city airports around the world and the
Pavas airport is no exception.
The Aviación Civil director stressed that
airports generate development and shops,
offices and residences are built around
them, and thus the need for regulations. "We
have not allowed construction that would
become a risk", said Fernández.
Fernández added that the Tobías Bolaño is
excellent condition to operate the number of
daily flights and that the surrounding tall
buildings are outside the protected area.
Pilots who use the airport complain mainly
on the condition of the landing strip, where
the asphalt is warped and no moves have been
made to repair. Also, the wind conditions at
the airport could adversely affect
inexperienced or student pilots, as the
strong cross winds would destabilize the
aircraft.
Mauricio Espinoza, an air traffic controller
at the airport, said that the cross winds
are a condition of the airport, but the
airport is secure, particularly for the
types of aircraft that use the airport and
the type of flying in and out of the
airport, which is visual.
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