Mumbai airport yet to get latest version of ILS

Mumbai: While all four ends of Mumbai airport’s two runways are fitted with ILS, they are either the basic CAT I or II and hence when a downpour creates near zero visibility, planes are unable to land, leading to “go arounds” and diversions to other airports. Airport officials said that they have not upgraded it to CAT III as the airfield is surrounded by small hills on one side that makes an aircraft’s descent steeper than normal and the problem is exacerbated by the double-storeyed slums along the perimeter walls.
A Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesman confirmed that the Trombay hill and the slums that surround the airport were obstacles in the descent path of planes. But he said ILS is a responsibility of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and MIAL could only upgrade runway lights to match any CAT level as long as the electronic equipment is procured and installed by AAI. “MIAL’s proposal to upgrade CAT ILS systems on Mumbai’s runways is pending with the AAI,” he added.
However, since Mumbai is a clear weather airport for most parts of the year, ILS CAT III is not really a requirement unlike Dehi which battles with heavy fog during winters, the spokesman added. M G Jhungare, Mumbai’s Air Traffic Control’s (ATC) General Manager, declined to comment on the issue.
Aviation experts and pilots were, however, not fully in agreement that a clear weather airport did not need ILS CAT III, adding that even one bad weather month in a year could create major problems.
14/07/08 Shashank Shekhar/Expressindia.com

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Categories: Airports Jul 2008, Safety Jul 2008