Chennai: : Airports Authority of India (AAI) is now forcing reluctant airlines to land planes on the truncated second runway, though it does not have an instrument landing system at Chennai airport.
The runway was opened to traffic in May but airlines have since refused to land flights because pilots have to look out of the cockpit to guide the planes to the runway. Though the runway was extended across Adyar River at a cost of 550crore, AAI did not factor in land needed to install instrument landing system - an equipment that allows pilot of an approaching aircraft to home in on a runway with precision.
AAI wants airlines to land planes on the second runway when main runway is closed for maintenance in the afternoon on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A circular issued to airlines said they should cancel flight plans filed using instrument approach procedures of ICAO and request for visual approach to land on the second runway as planes near Chennai airport.
11/08/14 V. Ayyappan/Times of India
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The runway was opened to traffic in May but airlines have since refused to land flights because pilots have to look out of the cockpit to guide the planes to the runway. Though the runway was extended across Adyar River at a cost of 550crore, AAI did not factor in land needed to install instrument landing system - an equipment that allows pilot of an approaching aircraft to home in on a runway with precision.
AAI wants airlines to land planes on the second runway when main runway is closed for maintenance in the afternoon on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A circular issued to airlines said they should cancel flight plans filed using instrument approach procedures of ICAO and request for visual approach to land on the second runway as planes near Chennai airport.
11/08/14 V. Ayyappan/Times of India
