Main runway at Chennai airport to remain partially closed for repair

Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will close the main runway at the Chennai airport for a few hours every day to carry out much needed repair.
With increased rubber deposits on the runway, the friction co-efficient of the surface has fallen below acceptable standards. The co-efficient reflects the ability of the surface to allow an aircraft’s braking action. It is of particular importance in times of rain, when runways are slippery.
The runway will be closed between 1.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. until February 29. From March 1, it will be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Airlines were issued a notification this week to reschedule their operations around this time to minimise disruptions. While the cross-runway, which came into operation in December, will bear some of the burden, it lacks the capacity to carry the full load of flights. Wide-bodied aircraft cannot land on the cross-runway, which is more than 1,500 metres shorter than the main runway.
22/02/08 Ananth Krishnan/The Hindu

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Categories: airports Feb 2008