Another snag hits operations at IGI

New Delhi: Weeks after it was set right, the runway visual range (RVR) machine at IGI Airport developed more problems on Saturday. And as a result, only a single runway was in use for a large part of the morning — all due to the fog.
About 150 flights were delayed and several hundred passengers remained stuck inside aircraft as congestion was compounded in the morning with only runway 28/10 available for operations. The RVR machine for runway 29 developed a technical problem after the dense fog led to moisture accumulation in the machine.
Airport sources said the machine stopped functioning just after midnight and was set right only by 10am. While the runway is not used between 10pm and 6am due to night restrictions, it plays a vital role in clearing the morning congestion.
"Due to moisture on the mirror of the machine, we were unable to get RVR values. From about 8.30am, the Met department had to give manual readings to assist in flight operations. Manual readings cannot be used during CAT-III operations so we had to wait for visibility to improve. Meanwhile, the machine was cleaned and recalibrated," said a senior official.
On the first day of dense fog on January 2, both the runways were out of service for several hours as the RVR system collapsed due to a human error. Low visibility procedures were implemented at the airport between 10.07pm on Friday and 11.10am on Saturday. Very dense fog conditions were prevailing between midnight and about 8.30am during which visibility was below 50m and RVR was fluctuating between 100m and 175m.
24/01/10 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2010