Runway assessment begins

Sept 5, 2008
V Ayyappan TNN

Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has kicked off the safety assessment of the secondary runway to check if simultaneous use of primary and secondary runways can be made more frequent in the future. It is estimated that the cross runway operation will increase the aircraft handling capacity of the airport from the existing 25 to 50 movements per hour. The tests and assessments are being done between 9 and 11 am in the wake of the proposed extension of secondary runway expected to begin by the end of this month. This will gear up the airport for full-fledged cross runway operations. “We have started monitoring the safety aspects and operational details like separation of aircraft, manoeuvring without standard instruments and assessing load criteria to prepare pilots, air traffic controllers and airlines,” said a senior official of the AAI. Now, only take-offs are allowed from the secondary runway because it does not have an instrument landing system. But, the airport is planning to install Standard Instrument Departure System (SIDS) and Standard Instrument Arrival System (SIAS) to facilitate smooth take-offs and landings on the secondary runway. If the secondary runway is used for take off, two take-offs can be permitted between two landings. “The secondary runway will be useful for aircraft taking off to north and north-west destinations like Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. These aircraft can save fuel by using the secondary runway. Aircraft that take off from the main runway will have to fly an extra 25 nautical miles before turning towards north or north west,” the official said.