Times News Network
Mangalore, May 26: Flight operations to Mangalore from Mumbai and Bangalore are likely to be affected during the monsoon, as both runways at Bajpe airport here, do not having the Instrument Landing System (ILS). Visibility gets to near zero during heavy rain.
ILS on the first runway is in the process of being removed and re-installed on the newly commissioned second runway. Airport Director Vasudeva said arrangements are being made to install the system on the second runway soon. It would take minimum three weeks to get the ILS in place, including calibration work, he added.
ILS is a landing navigation system that is used only within a short distance from the airport. Its purpose is to help the pilot land the plane when visibility is limited and the pilot cannot see the airport and runway. The Bajpe airport has Category I ILS.
A standard ILS is termed ‘Category I’, which allows landings with 2,400 ft (732 metres) visibility or 1,800 ft (549 metres) in case of touchdown. The more advanced Category II and III systems allow operations in near-zero visibility, but require special additional certification of the aircraft and the pilot. Category II approaches permit landing with a 100-foot decision height and visibility as low as 1,200 ft (366 metres). Category III is flown by an autoland system on board the landing aircraft, and permits operations even with no decision heights and visibility better than 700 feet (Cat IIIa) or between 150 feet and 700 feet (Cat IIIb).
The system, which is ground-based, broadcasts very precise directional signals. These signals provide a lateral and vertical path to the runway to a distance of 18 nautical miles from the runway. The pilot has to fly within range of the ILS in order to use it.
The ILS broadcasts marker beacons that are directed upward within a relatively narrow space. These beacons serve as checkpoints to tell the pilot the plane’s position. Some systems use three marker beacons —- an outer, middle, and inner - while others use only an outer and middle beacon. These marker beacons tell the pilot that he has reached an important place along the approach path. For instance, it might tell the pilot that the plane’s landing gear should be lowered.
The ‘missing ILS’ is causing jitters to flight operators, who have experienced problems of zero visibility earlier. They observe that if the visibility deteriorates, the plane will have to circle the airport hoping for the conditions to improve or fly back to the nearest airport, which will dent their operating costs severely.
Compounding the problem of the operators is the present infrastructure at the airport. If a flight does not take off due to poor visibility (in the absence of ILS), the space for passengers is limited as the recently set up immigration counter has reduced the available space. For example the restaurant can now house only 30, as half its space is reduced due to the immigration counter. Secondly, flight delay would mean there will be a minimum of 250 passengers inside the airport premises packed like sardines against the capacity of 200.
The operators hope that the ILS would be operational at least by June 15, during which the time the monsoons reach the peak.
First International Flight
The first international chartered flight from Sharjah is expected to arrive at Bajpe airport here on Friday at 5 p.m.
The Russain made Tupolev aircraft, Tu 154, will drop passengers and return to Sharjah immediately, according to sources. It is supposed to carry 150 passengers.