T3’s take-off will have to wait for ‘proving flights’

New Delhi The scheduled dates for shifting of international and domestic operations to the new integrated Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport have been postponed with Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) decided to conduct nine ‘terminal process proving flights’ on July 14 and 15. These will be part of the last leg of operational readiness and airport transfer tests at the new terminal.
“The operational readiness tests conducted so far have been a simulation of the processes and facilities using mock passengers and dummy baggage. The proving flights, on the other hand, will enable all stakeholders to perform their functions in actual operations with real passengers,” a DIAL spokesperson said.
So far, airport stakeholders have performed 13 basic trials, 33 advanced trials and 10 air taxi simulation trials, which have enabled simulation involving 50,000 mock passengers and 80,000 bags. In order to incorporate lessons and fill up on deficiencies from the real time tests on operation of ‘proving flights’, the airport operator has decided to postpone commercial operations.
Emirates has commissioned a special commercial service of the 517-seat A380 to be one of the proving flights before the actual commercial operations start at T3. The A380 will operate EK516 on the Dubai
-Delhi route on July 15, to arrive at Delhi by 2.50 pm. The aircraft will be at the IGI Airport for three hours before it returns to Dubai as EK517 departing Delhi at 5.50 pm.
07/07/10 Express India

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Categories: Airports Jul 2010, New Jul 2010