Mumbai airport lacks crucial radar, gets risky

Mumbai: India's busiest airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, could get even more chaotic and dangerous. Weeks after CNN-IBN reported how crucial radar equipment at the airport was missing; further investigation shows that there will be a delay of eight months in the installation of the Surface Movement Radar.
The Surface Movement Radar tracks all ground movements but its warranty has already expired.
The reason why it has not yet been istalled is that one of the two units of the radar cannot be placed atop Terminal 1B. A study on structural feasibility pointed out that the terminal building is incapable of bearing the weight of the radar.
The backup unit will be setup on a specially constructed structure on the airside near the current Air Radar. But experts believe the delay will not only worsen the current situation; but could also be hazardous for operations.
"In the current scenario, there are many flights landing and many vehicles simultaneously operating on the airside. Now add to it the fact that there are two runways at Mumbai. The situation truly is chaotic for all," says aviation expert Vipul Saxena.
08/07/10 George Koshy and Raksha Shetty/CNN-IBN

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Categories: Airports Jul 2010, Safety Jul 2010