Airfield facilities at Pristina Airport in Kosovo, particularly navigation aids, were seriously disrupted by last year's conflict. The UK government's Department for International Development (DFID) under Clare Short MP has selected Racal Avionics, among other companies, to undertake some emergency repair work. \rRestoration of the airport will allow aid to continue to reach the capital during the harsh winter. The emergency repairs to the navigation system and ground lighting have taken precedence over the terminal rebuild, which will be deferred until spring. \rRacal reports that equipment installed includes a Category I Instrument Landing System (ILS), DVOR and DME and NDB navigation aids along with an integrated remote monitoring system for all the navigation aids. \rAccording to Racal, work is due to be completed by the end of the third week of January, subject to weather conditions.\r"Racal has gained considerable experience working in eastern European countries," commented a spokesman for the company. "In recent years the company has completed projects at the former Soviet fighter base, Siauliai airport in Lithuania, as well as Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, which is a major regional destination serving one of the former Soviet Union's primary oil regions."\rLobbying by the British Airport's Group brought the potential winter problems at Pristina to light. Task Force member John Gallaher, secretary general of BAG, said: "It was a great relief when NATO and DFID agreed to provide the funds required to help us ensure the airport would continue to operate during the bad weather. It would have been unthinkable if this lifeline for the Kosovans and our forces had been forced to close."