LGBI airport readies to handle big aircraft

Guwahati: The hub of air traffic in the North East, the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, is getting ready to handle bigger aircraft and more passengers in the days ahead under an augmentation plan, according to the Airports Authority of India. The runway has already been extended to 10,200 feet, which will allow larger aircraft to use the airport. It would particularly aid wide-bodied aircraft that requires longer runways to take off and land at LGBI. Moreover, the expanded runway would be a boon to any aircraft for safe landing and take off in wet conditions, which is frequent in the region.
This correspondent was told that ongoing extension work would involve the building of a link taxiway, construction of isolation bay, and a new apron for parking of five AB 321 and six ATR 72 aircraft.
In the near future there are plans to develop a newly acquired land measuring 240 acres for expanding the airport along with its drainage system.
According to data maintained by the AAI, the LGBI airport has seen a rise in the number of commercial flights. The total number of arrivals during the year 2008 was 14,856, whereas the number was 14,001 in the previous year. The increase of 6.107 per cent, however, could be surpassed this year.
The type of air traffic control equipment, according to the AAI meets the present day requirement of the airport. Today, there exists Procedural Air Traffic Control Service with Westinghouse radar backup and instrumental approach (ILS/VIR). Along with Flight Information Service, alerting service, Air Traffic Advisory Services are also offered by the Guwahati ATC.
27/03/09 Prabal Kr Das/The Assam Tribune

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Categories: Airports Mar 2009