KUALA LUMPUR: If Singapore goes ahead with its plan to use the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at its Seletar Airport, it will not only affect Pasir Gudang but also up north to Ayer Tawar and almost to Kota Tinggi.
This was explained in a video posted by Transport Minister Anthony Loke on his Facebook page last night.
He was detailing why Malaysia was opposed to ILS, a precision runway approach aid that helps airplanes to land even in poor visibility.
“Hi Singapore, Seletar Airport is yours, but Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia is ours. So please hear us out,” Loke said.
“To Malaysians, please watch and share this — there are reasons why Malaysia has to oppose the ILS of the Seletar Airport which Singapore wants to implement from Jan 3, 2019.
“We urge Singapore to withdraw the ILS announcement and to amend the flight path as per our request.”
The 1:36 minute video explains that as Seletar Airport is only 2km from Pasir Gudang, any planes landing at the airport will intrude into Malaysia’s airspace.
The height buffer from a distance of 3km and 6km from the Seletar Airport runway cannot be higher than 54m and 145m, respectively.
“This means, even a mobile crane would have breached the height limit and there are many tall buildings in Johor,” said Loke.
“We can’t even build tall buildings over Pasir Gudang if we allow that flight path and our Pasir Gudang Port will be subjected to higher risks and multiple restrictions.
“Previously, Seletar Airport did not use ILS and pilots can manoeuvre around obstacles, hence no height regulation is required around the flight path area.
“But now, it is compulsory to impose height restrictions for ILS.”
Loke clarified Malaysia’s stand on the matter.
“Our position is very clear; we are not against Seletar Airport but as far as the descending flight path is concerned, it cannot be over Pasir Gudang.”