Chennai: A Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Delhi’s IGI Airport on Wednesday for tests ahead of the arrival in December of the first of 27 of the jets that Air India has ordered from the aircraft manufacturer. But if you’re hoping to fly the most advanced commercial airplane in the world from Anna International Airport, be prepared for the ignominy of using the antiquated stepladders to climb into the jet. This is because the new airport ramp does not have adequate space to park the wide-body, superefficient aircraft, say officials.
After assessing the existing facilities, airport officials in Chennai have decided to park the 787 in the old apron, where loading, unloading and refuelling of the aircraft will be done. Aviation experts say operating a flight from old ramp will mean that passengers will not be able to use the aerobridges at the new terminal but will have to climb up and down stepladders that belong to an older era in aviation. “The Dreamliner can operate oeut of 4F category airports but the Chennai airport is in the 4E category. If we park the 787 in one of the existing parking bays, then we will not be able to use the two adjacent bays on either side,” said a senior airport official.
14/07/11 Deccan Chronicle
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