The works for the installation of the new Category III b Precision Instrument Landing System at Carrasco International Airport are steadily progressing. This is a key project that will further enhance the country’s airport infrastructure, raising safety, operations, and service standards for aviation.
The Category III b ILS is a state-of-the-art technology that will upgrade the classification of Uruguay’s main airport, enabling aircraft to operate under maximum safety conditions even in adverse weather, with minimal visibility and fog.
The first stage of the project has been completed following the lighting works on the secondary runway 01-19 and taxiways, which included the installation of 290 LED lights and the replacement of 45 kilometers of lighting cable. This stage also involved the installation of new constant current regulator units featuring the latest LED technology, sourced from the United States and Belgium.
Enhancements will continue in the coming months with work on the taxiways and the main runway 07-25, including both lighting and paving upgrades. The ILS system for the approach to the main runway 25 features a new radio navigation system, an advanced weather station with strategically distributed sensors along the main runway, and a new LED lighting system with the installation of 2,000 new lights.
The work schedule, carefully designed to minimize operational impact and shared in a timely manner with the airport ecosystem, is progressing according to plan. Works on the main runway will take place between June and November, during which time the secondary runway will be available for aircraft operations.
The work plan includes upgrades at the intersection of both runways, requiring two scheduled airport closures in August: from 9:00 a.m. on August 12 to 9:00 a.m. on August 14; and from 9:00 a.m. on August 19 to 9:00 a.m. on August 21. An additional scheduled closure will take place in September from 9:00 a.m. on September 2 to 9:00 a.m. on September 4.
The system being implemented is of French origin, featuring advanced technology similar to that used at some of the world’s leading airports, including JFK Airport in New York, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, and Schiphol in Amsterdam, among others.
At Aeropuertos Uruguay, we appreciate the joint efforts with all the organizations involved and the understanding of all passengers during this period of works, which is part of our ongoing commitment to improving Uruguay’s air connectivity with the world and modernizing the country’s aeronautical infrastructure.
We invite you to learn more about this modern system at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bigXnjAGVcY
