Pre-monsoon work on Mumbai runway delays flights

Mumbai: Long waits at the Mumbai airport’s tarmac have become a part of the itinerary for hundreds of people flying in and out of the city.
Grading work on the main runway and frequent tailwinds (winds towards the course of a flight) are holding flights back.
The work takes place for 10 hours every day and will take at least three weeks to finish. The work is being carried out from 10 am to 6 pm, which though not the peak time, is leading to delays.
According to air traffic control officials, most flights are running about 30 minutes behind schedule.
The main runway cannot be used during low visibility and strong tailwinds have been frequently disrupting operations on the other runway.
“The past few days have been very chaotic. We had to suspend work, wait for the construction workers to clear the main runway and shift traffic back to the main runway,” said an air traffic control official requesting anonymity.
The Air Traffic Control has issued Notice to Airmen so that airlines are prepared for the delays caused by grading work.
12/05/10 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Airports May 2010