Kolkata: The next time Kolkata airport is enveloped by thick fog, flights will continue to take off even after landing is discontinued due to poor visibility. This will minimize disruption in flight schedule, which inconveniences passengers of not only early morning flights but also later in the day as the ripple effect of the delays continues for hours.
On December 27, flights that could have taken off even in poor visibility were stranded at Dum Dum airport as neighbouring airports were not operational. Though full service is made available at airports when they have flights, partial service crucial for flights to land and take off is provided during watch hours. Though the watch hour in Bhubaneswar begins at 6.45am and concludes at 10.30pm at present, airlines have demanded extended watch hours in January to ensure that disruption at Kolkata airport is minimal.
The Category-II Instrument Landing System at Dum Dum airport enables flights to land till visibility drops below 350 metres. However, flights can continue to take off till there is visibility of 150 metres provided there is another airport within an hour's cruise time where an aircraft can land in case of emergency after takeoff.
04/01/15 Times of India
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On December 27, flights that could have taken off even in poor visibility were stranded at Dum Dum airport as neighbouring airports were not operational. Though full service is made available at airports when they have flights, partial service crucial for flights to land and take off is provided during watch hours. Though the watch hour in Bhubaneswar begins at 6.45am and concludes at 10.30pm at present, airlines have demanded extended watch hours in January to ensure that disruption at Kolkata airport is minimal.
The Category-II Instrument Landing System at Dum Dum airport enables flights to land till visibility drops below 350 metres. However, flights can continue to take off till there is visibility of 150 metres provided there is another airport within an hour's cruise time where an aircraft can land in case of emergency after takeoff.
04/01/15 Times of India
