Alarm bells over runway move

Today is supposed to be a momentous day of sorts for the Mumbai airport. For the first time, the airport's cross-runways can be used simultaneously 24 hours a day, provided conditions like visibility, manpower and so on are fulfilled.
However, on Monday, the Director General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) air safety team will be in Mumbai investigating the near-miss incident between an Air India plane and a Jet Airways aircraft that took place during cross-runway operations on Sunday.
Till Monday, the cross-runways at Mumbai could be used simultaneously only from 5.30 am to 9.30 am and 3 pm to 7 pm. The decision to have the cross-runways operational 24/7 was taken recently after an aviation ministry panel met with airlines.
So from now on, if visibility is over 3,000 metres and Air Traffic Control (ATC) has enough personnel, both runways can be used simultaneously throughout the day. This is expected to bring down circling time over the airport and taxiing time before departure.
Simultaneous use of cross runways is done in many airports the world over, but the question-especially after Sunday's incident-is: how safe is it at Mumbai airport?
M G Junghare, general manager, Mumbai airport, who heads the ATC unit, said that when only a single runway is used, 30 flights can be handled in an hour. Cross runways increase the capacity to 32. Is it worth the risk to operate both runways 24/7 when the handling capacity only rises by two-or at the most three to four-flights an hour?
Capt R S Otaal, general secretary of Indian Commercial Pilots Association, said, "The monsoon, coupled with fatigued pilots, would spell double trouble in 24/7 cross-runway operations. We do not follow scientifically backed rest rules like they do in other countries.''
01/06/09 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2009, Safety Jun 2009