The Hindu : New Delhi News : New runway open for commercial operations

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Friday, Sep 26, 2008
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New runway open for commercial operations

Staff Reporter

Delhi’s IGI now the country’s only airport with three operational runways

Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Touching down: An Indian Airlines aircraft landing on the new runway which became operational at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Thursday. The 4,430-metre-long runway, among the longest in Asia, is equipped with CAT IIIB Instrument Landing System at both ends allowing compatible aircraft to land even when the visibility is as low as 50 metres.

NEW DELHI: The third runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport here was opened for commercial operations on Thursday morning.

The Delhi airport is now the country’s only airport with three operational runways.

A Boeing 777-300 aircraft operated by British Airways became the first commercial flight to touch down on the new runway (11-29) at 6-18 a.m. though a note prepared by the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation had mentioned that an Air India plane would be the maiden flight to land on the new runway.

Developed by the GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Limited, the new runway is part of the master plan to develop the IGI Airport into a modern travel hub.

The runway was inaugurated -- six months ahead of schedule -- by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on August 21 with the landing of the first proving flight, a Boeing 777 operated by Air India.

The new runway, which is one of the longest in Asia at 4,430 metres, is capable of handling the largest aircraft category -- Code F -- that comprises Airbus A380 and Antonov An-225.

Just before landing, the pilot of the British Airways Flight 257 coming in from London informed the travellers that they were the first passengers to land on the new runway.

Ceremonial salute

On touching down, the aircraft was given a ceremonial water cannon salute by fire tenders from the Airport Fire Service. On reaching the terminal, the passengers were accorded a traditional welcome by the staff.

“In the initial phase, the new runway 11-29 will be operated in tandem with the primary runway 10-28. During this period, Runway 28 will be used for all departure flights, while all flight arrivals will take place on Runway 29,” said a DIAL official.

However, after a meeting of the Ministry with all the Delhi airport stakeholders on Wednesday, it had been announced that all arrivals would be handled at the 10-28 runway, while all departures would be from 11-29.

“On the first day, more than a hundred flights landed on the new runway in the first half itself. All the stakeholders, including Air Traffic Control, the Airports Authority of India and airlines along with DIAL are working together to gain experience on the new operating procedures,” he added.

Since runways 11-29 and 10-28 are parallel, their simultaneous operation will significantly expand the IGI Airport’s capacity to handle aircraft movements. The third runway is also equipped with CAT III-B instrument landing system at both ends allowing compatible aircraft to land even when the visibility is as low as 50 metres.

“This will complement the existing CAT III-B equipment on runway 10-28 making Delhi airport the only one in India to have twin runways with this advanced instrument landing system. In addition, an advanced surface movement guidance system featuring induction loop sensors has been deployed to track the movement of the aircraft along the runway,” said the official.

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