Is Ahmedabad runway safe for passengers?

Ahmedabad: On Sunday, Indian luxury coach driver Mohanlal Jethalal ran over 35-year-old Vaghela who worked in the catering division of Le Meridien, just outside the runway when he was heading home after a night shift. Aircraft hitting dogs and birds have become common on Ahmedabad airport terminal which might put safety, of over 6500 passengers at risk.
Questions are also being asked on how 58-year-old Jethalal who retired from Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services (AMTS) was employed by official carrier. It is a well-known fact that AMTS drivers are reckless. An airport official said, “Usually, airlines outsource their services to private parties which are not reputed.” Just as monsoon set in, passengers of an Emirates Airlines 529 flight had a narrow escape when the flight bound for Sharjah-Dubai hit a dog on the runway here.
In the past, there have been instances when pilot had to report a stray dog sighted on runway to Air Traffic Control, Ahmedabad.
Not just dogs, but bird hits at the time of landing or take-off are common. Officials said that dogs and birds are attracted to airport because of disposal of domestic waste by residents of thickly populated residential areas of Kubernagar and Sardarnagar, adjacent to airport.
When contacted, AMC officials had little to say in defence. Ahmedabad airport officials had started a practice of a team of officials patrolling runway in a jeep before take-off and landing of flights but that too does not happen in night.
07/10/08 Himanshu Kaushik/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Oct 2008, Safety Oct 2008