Pilot is god on dodgy runway

Calcutta: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has left it to pilots to “exercise caution” while landing at Calcutta airport as an inter-departmental stand-off has delayed the task of scraping dangerous rubber deposits off the primary runway.
“The 19 Left (northern side) runway touchdown zone’s friction effect has reduced. Pilots to exercise caution while landing, specially during the rains,” the AAI said in its advisory to all airlines.
A notice to airmen had been issued last week to remove the rubber from the main runway, but Air Traffic Control set some conditions for closing the strip for repairs. “It will take us some time to meet these conditions,” an official said on Monday.
Till such time, the onus is solely on pilots to ensure that passengers are safe. The advisory states that planes must land at speeds lower than normal and pilots should avoid “excessive braking”.
The rubber comes from tyres that get heated on contact with the runway. The AAI had planned to close the primary runway for repairs and use the secondary one almost three weeks ago, but red tape came in the way.
Airlines are now being forced to change landing procedures to ensure safety.
01/07/08 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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Categories: Airports Jul 2008, Safety Jul 2008