The Delhi airport today got the ministry approval for using the third runway for lower visibility conditions. Earlier the runway though functional, had not been approved for operating aircraft at lower visbility conditions, because the surface movement radar, which guides the aircraft when it is on the runway, was not operationalised.
Now, aircraft operations can be done on both runways even in lower visibililty conditions, which is estimated to lessen flight delays by 30-40 per cent.
According to a ministry statement, Madhavan Nambiar, secretary, ministry of civil aviation reviewed the preparedness of the airport to handle foggy weather conditions.
The meeting was attended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Chairman Airports Authority of India (AAI) and executives of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) among others
“Airport Authority of India (AAI) has installed and commissioned second surface movement radar (SMR) at the third runway with a separate ATC display in control tower, which forms part of the existing automation surface movement guidance and control system (ASMGCS). This display will facilitate the air traffic controllers to identify the radar data from detected targets on the third runway as well as the related taxiway before entering the International/Domestic apron even under near zero visibility conditions. The category-III instrumental landing system (ILS) has already been commissioned after calibration, which will help to sustain the Category 3B operations,” said a ministry statement .