Copper thieves stripping cables and equipment from Pietermaritzburg Airport’s navigational systems are threatening the safety of aircraft landing at the airport.
“The airport is experiencing great difficulty in keeping key navigational equipment located outside the airport operational. The Non-Directional Beacons are essential equipment to guide aircraft landing at the airport. Unfortunately, these beacons are being regularly vandalized and copper and other metals are being removed by thieves,” reported the airport to the Msunduzi City Council.
The beacons outside the airport light up the path to the runway for aircraft to land. They also help pilots align their aircraft and check their altitude. If the lights fail because of copper thieves stealing the cables a fatal accident could result.
The municipality has decided to encase the electric cables connecting the beacons in concrete and to install an inner perimeter fence around the equipment as well as an alarm system linked to the surrounding farming community’s security system…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
