Radio signal that caused LAX delays is fixed
A faulty instrument landing system that delayed flights this week at Los Angeles International Airport returned to service Thursday after technicians repaired the device’s radio antenna, authorities said.
Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the equipment was reactivated about 8:30 a.m. after flight tests involving one of the agency’s aircraft were successful.
The system for the airport’s northern runways failed early Monday after heavy fog rolled in along the coast, forcing air traffic controllers to route incoming aircraft to the south side of LAX. Instrument landing systems transmit radio signals that guide airplanes when visibility is poor.
Gregor said that inbound flights were delayed an average of 37 minutes as the number of landings air traffic controllers could handle per hour was cut from 68 to 32.
Because the system was not back in service Wednesday evening, another round of delays occurred when the dense fog returned.
-- Dan Weikel
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