Runway blip affects airport schedules

Kolkata: Operations at the Neaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport were held up for a brief period on Thursday morning as runway lights malfunctioned and an overcast sky played spoilsport.
Though the disruption was for barely 10 minutes, the roll-over delays triggered by the crucial stoppage during rush time sent flight schedules haywire for several hours.Around 9.55 am, a short-circuit led to runway lights shutting down. With the skies overcast, the air traffic control suspended operations to consult the Met office.
The Indian Airlines flight to Dibrugarh had just taxied down to the runway for takeoff when flights were put on hold.
Runway lights are switched on when visibility drops below 1,500 metre. Non-CAT II operations is allowed till 550 m. Thereafter, only pilots trained in CAT II operations are allowed to takeoff or land. Once visibility drops below 350 m, all operations are suspended.
20/07/07 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jul 2007, Safety Jul 2007