Bermuda International Airport's new Instrument Landing System (ILS) has passed with flying colours and is now in full service.

The Instrument Landing System uses VHF and UHF radio beams to provide precise altitude and heading information to pilots during descent and landing in limited visibility conditions.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air crew successfully completed flight-checks for the Airport's new ILS this week.

General manager, James Howes, said the FAA jet arrived from Oklahoma City in mid-December last year for an extensive series of checks to make sure the new ILS met the required performance standards.

The FAA is part of the US Department of Transportation and provides regulatory and safety oversight of aviation and airports in the US and also assists Bermuda International Airport in maintaining its navigation and radio communications system, as well as co-operating in air traffic control procedures.

The first airplane to use the new system in actual service was a British Airways flight from London.

Mr. Howes said he was grateful for the FAA's co-operation in providing their skilled technical teams, which made Bermuda's new ILS possible.