A radar outage at L.F. Wade International Airport means controllers have been guiding planes using little more than common sense and communication with pilots.

One controller claimed problems had been recurring for several weeks and had led to the possibility of a catastrophic event during the influx of aircraft after Tropical Storm Bertha passed Bermuda.

According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in the US, the "unreliable" radar failed in Bermuda some weeks ago, and its back-up radar failed on June 23.

This meant that more than 125 aircraft which were already airborne had to be rerouted around Bermuda's airspace.

In total, more than 500 aircraft have been affected by the outage.

Although the Bermuda tower handles arrivals and departures, Bermuda's airspace is handled from the New York Center. Staff claim they have been forced to develop their own contingency plans to get in and out of Bermuda's airspace.

The union said in a statement: "When the radar failed in the past there was a specific set of rules to follow. Now, without the proper tools or reference books to work the airspace in case of a radar outage, the controllers are left to guide planes using common sense and communication with pilots — tools that are useful but not nearly adequate in safely directing air traffic.

"By not establishing a contingency plan the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is taking a major risk.

"Common sense can only be used for so long to work this system. With that being used as the chief tool in guiding planes, it's only a matter of time until a fatal accident will occur."

On Monday last week, when the Island was clipped by Bertha, controllers said the radar — which they say is a known unreliable piece of equipment — failed again.

A letter from a New York Center representative to the FAA, dated last Tuesday, stated: "Well, another week and another update about the problems with the Bermuda radar.

"I am pleading for assistance on these issues. When Bertha finally passes and the winds subside at Bermuda there will be a huge influx of aircraft into the Bermuda airport.

"If the radar is still down at that point in time we will have the very real possibility of a catastrophic event occurring."

Airport General Manager Aaron Adderley did not respond to a request for a comment.