Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is an international airport located just northeast of Basseterre
, on the island of Saint Kitts
, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla (as it then was), Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
A major renovation was completed in December 2006. The US$17 million project financed by loans from the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank and Taiwan, includes expansion of the parking apron to accommodate six-wide-bodied aircraft at the same time, complete resurfacing of the 2317 m (7,602 ft) runway and construction of a new taxi-way. Construction started late 2004. Up to 6 wide bodied jets can now be accommodated on the tarmac. The airport can accommodate commercial jumbo jets and handles scheduled non-stop jet flights to Canada and the United States, as well as numerous regional commuter flights from within the Caribbean area.
The largest aircraft now operating regularly scheduled service at SKB is the 777-200 from British Airways. The airport also provides facilities for cargo and private jets.
As of 2008, the airport handled 299,706 passengers.
Flight 2156 to V. C. Bird International Airport, Antigua
, operated by Boeing 777-236 G-VIIR entered the runway
through the wrong taxiway
, prior to takeoff. This resulted in the aircraft having 695m less available for takeoff, compared to the correct taxiway entry. The takeoff was however completed normally with no injuries or other damages. The AAIB
concluded in its report that the following factors contributed to the incident: "The airport authority had not installed any taxiway or holding point signs on the airfield. The crew did not brief the taxi routing. The crew misidentified Taxiway Bravo for Taxiway Alpha and departed from Intersection Bravo. The trainee ATCO
did not inform the flight crew that they were at Intersection Bravo."
Basseterre
Basseterre , estimated population 15,500 in 2000, is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kitts Island, and it is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands...
, on the island of Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla (as it then was), Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
A major renovation was completed in December 2006. The US$17 million project financed by loans from the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank and Taiwan, includes expansion of the parking apron to accommodate six-wide-bodied aircraft at the same time, complete resurfacing of the 2317 m (7,602 ft) runway and construction of a new taxi-way. Construction started late 2004. Up to 6 wide bodied jets can now be accommodated on the tarmac. The airport can accommodate commercial jumbo jets and handles scheduled non-stop jet flights to Canada and the United States, as well as numerous regional commuter flights from within the Caribbean area.
The largest aircraft now operating regularly scheduled service at SKB is the 777-200 from British Airways. The airport also provides facilities for cargo and private jets.
As of 2008, the airport handled 299,706 passengers.
Scheduled service
Charter
Cargo
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Accidents and incidents
On 26 September 2009, British AirwaysBritish Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
Flight 2156 to V. C. Bird International Airport, Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
, operated by Boeing 777-236 G-VIIR entered the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
through the wrong taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
, prior to takeoff. This resulted in the aircraft having 695m less available for takeoff, compared to the correct taxiway entry. The takeoff was however completed normally with no injuries or other damages. The AAIB
Air Accidents Investigation Branch
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigates air accidents in the United Kingdom. It is a branch of the Department for Transport and is based on the grounds of Farnborough Airport near Aldershot, Rushmoor, Hampshire.-History:...
concluded in its report that the following factors contributed to the incident: "The airport authority had not installed any taxiway or holding point signs on the airfield. The crew did not brief the taxi routing. The crew misidentified Taxiway Bravo for Taxiway Alpha and departed from Intersection Bravo. The trainee ATCO
Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers are the people who expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic in the global air traffic control system. The position of the air traffic controller is one that requires highly specialized skills...
did not inform the flight crew that they were at Intersection Bravo."