Hi-tech equipment to cut foggy flight delays

Chandigarh: Every year, dense fog and poor visibility disrupt flight schedules at the Chandigarh airport, leaving many stranded for hours, or
even days. Cutting down chances of bad weather playing spoilsport, the city’s lone airport — that caters to a large chunk of travellers to the region — would soon get a hi-tech aid that would allow aircraft to land under adverse conditions.
Considered the most advanced in the series, the instrument landing system-III (ILS) would be set up at Chandigarh airfield within the next two months. It would be equipped with the capacity of 150-300 feet; the existing ILS cat-I allows visibility of 2,650 feet. The Indian Air Force, which is currently managing the runway and air traffic control here, would install the new system.
Talking to TOI, an airport official said the existing equipment did not allow flights to land during foggy conditions when the visibility was poor.
The existing system was even not appropriate keeping in view the meteorological conditions of Chandigarh region, said the official. With the installation of ILS-III, passengers would face fewer delays as Delhi and Amritsar airports too are equipped with the same hi-tech device, claimed another official.
26/10/08 Ajay Sura/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Oct 2008