Mangalore airport to get new ATC tower, safer runway

Mumbai: A year after the Air India Express Boeing 737 crash at the Mangalore Airport which killed 158 people, the airport is set to get a new air traffic control (ATC) tower and a safer runway.
The court of inquiry by air marshal (retd) B N Gokhale, which probed the May 22 crash, has recommended the construction of a new ATC tower for a better view of the airport. Other upgrades include improved runway markings and elevation of the runway-end safety area.
The current ATC tower at the Mangalore Airport is situated at one end of the 2,450-metre long runway. Since the height of the tower is low, it does not offer controllers a good view of the airport. The court of inquiry said on May 22, 2010, the on-duty air traffic controller was unable to see the Boeing 737 at the end of the runway, and according to standard practice, had radioed the plane to backtrack on the runway.
The AAI has now drawn up plans for to construct an ATC tower and a radar control room at a distance of 2,000 feet from the point where runway 24/06 begins.
"We have floated tenders for the ATC tower. It would cost about Rs 26.5 crore, and would be completed in eighteen months after the bid is finalised,'' said Mangalore airport Director, M R Vasudeva. He claimed there were no concerns regarding the view of the runway from the current tower.
However, the construction of an approach radar, which can track planes within 50 miles, would take more time. The airport currently has only a route surveillance radar, which tracks planes beyond 50 miles.
21/05/11 /Aneesh PhadnisBusiness Standard

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Categories: Airports May 2011