Runway glitches baffle pilots

New Delhi: Though spanking new airports have come up in India, there seem to be glitches in the runway construction of at least three of them which is baffling aviators. Have airport operators slipped up on the most vital part of their operations?
Take Delhi Airport, which has three runways. The third and newest runway, 29-11, was inaugurated with much fanfare last year. Touted as the longest in Asia, an awesome 14,534 ft.But just two-thirds of the runway, only 8,015 ft, is actually in use. In fact, the second runway, 28-10, whose total length is 12,500 ft, out of which 11,360 ft is used, is ironically longer than this one. Besides, only landings are taking place from one side of the new runway — the Shiv Murti side. Even the other end, towards Dwarka, is hardly used, except when the winds are easterly and during monsoons, says a commander.
So what went wrong? This runway is too close to the 62-feet high Shiv Murti statue. Its shorter length also makes it difficult for wide-bodied and heavier planes to land as they need more runway length. ''We now have to apply maximum brakes, especially if there are tail winds there,'' says a pilot. ''It will be worse when the runway is wet.'' So what's the solution? Sources say this runway could perhaps be extended to the other side, opposite the statue, so that it retains its original length. Or shift the statue, suggest others.
02/02/09 Shobha John/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2009