Pilots struggle on Mumbai runway

Mumbai: Ever heard of pilots getting lost on the runway? Well, this is precisely what is happening at Mumbai airport where some pilots, particularly those flying on domestic sectors, are feeling confused because of the rapidly changing nomenclature of taxiways.
What was earlier Alpha 1 and Alpha 2 is now Kilo 1 and Kilo 3. Part of taxiway Delta has been renovated and renamed November 9 and November 10 and the nomenclature, which used to follow an alphabetic order, is now random.
Officials explain the shuffling is the result of the gradual implementation of a master plan to organise the entry and exit of aircraft from the runway and have easy links to parking bays. The nomenclature of taxiways, too, will change in keeping with their direction with respect to the two runways. "But, as the plan is being implemented gradually and parallel to normal operations, pilots and traffic controllers will have to keep referring to the frequently changing maps till it is finally in place,'' say officials.
However, it's a crazy situation for pilots. "It is puzzling when the controller guides me to an old taxiway but with a new name. Currently, with changes taking place constantly, one has to keep referring to the map and rely on the controller for directions,'' an Air India pilot said. "Each time one lands, there is a new thing to look out for,'' he added.
Each time a new taxiway is added or shut for renovation, a NOTAM (notice to airmen) is issued to airlines as well as traffic controllers but this has not seemed to have helped a lot.
"The changes are being made while the airport is operational and so these confusions will keep on occurring till the new plan for the runway and taxiways comes into force in totality,'' a traffic controller said.
The new plan for taxiways envisions their construction parallel to the two runways (09-27 and 14-32) and they will be named according to their direction.
28/02/09 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Feb 2009