Kolkata airport snag may disrupt flight schedule

Kolkata: Though an array of equipment has been installed to upgrade the instrument landing system (ILS) at Kolkata airport to category II (CAT II) status that allows aircraft to operate even when visibility is 350 metre, the malfunctioning of a basic equipment like transmission meter will stall flights when visibility drops below 800 metre.
Part of the CAT I system that was installed at the airport prior to its upgrade to CAT II, the transmissio n meter has been functioning erratically for some time now. But with winter now around the corner, its malfunctioning threatens to throw all fog plans out of gear. The crucial instrument that belongs to the airport meteorological department has been out of order since Saturday.
Staring at the possibility of nearly 30 flight disruptions if fog envelops the airport before the instrument is repaired, Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials have lashed out at the met department.
Met officials conceded that they were unable to measure the runway visual range at touchdown point, a critical figure for aircraft to operate when visibility is low. "Now we will only submit a special report by assessing the visual range manually," a met official said.
04/12/07 Arpit Basu/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Dec 2007, Safety Dec 2007