Driving down city roads, any driver would give a king's ransom for the ability to fly over all the potholes and rough patches. But before that, talk to pilots who land aircraft on the runway at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at Nagpur. Its condition is said to be worse than the city roads these days.
"The 3,200-meter runway at Nagpur airport has become worse than city roads. A 300-meter patch, at the spot where aircraft brake hard after landing has been completely damaged. Every time an aircraft goes over this particular patch it experiences a bump," a senior airport official said on condition of anonymity.
The damaged braking spot poses a risk of some aircraft skidding. At least 22 aircraft land on this runway every day at Nagpur airport along with Air Force IL-76 cargo planes (Gajraj) and chartered aircraft. Another potential safety hazard for aircraft is the risk of tar particles from the damaged patch getting into aircraft engines.
"The runway surface has been giving way every now and then because of various reasons like heavy rains last year etc. But it raises a question on the maintenance work done by the airport operator company, Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL)," the official said.
The surface disintegration or rough patches on the runway have not forced any unscheduled closure of the airport as yet, neither have pilots officially complained about the runway condition. However, senior airport officials themselves admit that the runway is in pathetic condition and needs immediate resurfacing.
"A team from the Director General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) had inspected Nagpur airport recently had mentioned the pathetic condition of the runway in its report. The team found chunks of tar coming off," the official informed.
MIPL chief operating officer Abadhesh Prasad denied any such damage or existence of rough patches on the airport runway. "The runway is always under continuous maintenance and monitored by a team of ATC officials before every landing and take off," he said. However, sources said the ATC team only checks and clears the runway of foreign particles, like stones, dead animals etc, and has no rights to take action regarding rough patches on the runway.
The runway was last resurfaced six years back, in 2004, while in 1995 the then operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) had resurfaced it. Abadhesh Prasad admitted that due to rise in air traffic from airport, the existing runway needs immediate resurfacing. He said, "MIPL has appointed Span Consultancy to prepare a report for resurfacing of the entire operational area, including runway and old tarmac."
After submission of a report by Span, MIPL will invite bids to start resurfacing work. Apart from resurfacing of runway, powerful lights will also be installed on the taxiway which is plagued by power failures, he added. Normally, runways should be resurfaced every five years for safe operation of aircraft. Nagpur airport will need almost Rs 10 to 12 crore for resurfacing of runway and old tarmac, sources said.
"The 3,200-meter runway at Nagpur airport has become worse than city roads. A 300-meter patch, at the spot where aircraft brake hard after landing has been completely damaged. Every time an aircraft goes over this particular patch it experiences a bump," a senior airport official said on condition of anonymity.
The damaged braking spot poses a risk of some aircraft skidding. At least 22 aircraft land on this runway every day at Nagpur airport along with Air Force IL-76 cargo planes (Gajraj) and chartered aircraft. Another potential safety hazard for aircraft is the risk of tar particles from the damaged patch getting into aircraft engines.
"The runway surface has been giving way every now and then because of various reasons like heavy rains last year etc. But it raises a question on the maintenance work done by the airport operator company, Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL)," the official said.
The surface disintegration or rough patches on the runway have not forced any unscheduled closure of the airport as yet, neither have pilots officially complained about the runway condition. However, senior airport officials themselves admit that the runway is in pathetic condition and needs immediate resurfacing.
"A team from the Director General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) had inspected Nagpur airport recently had mentioned the pathetic condition of the runway in its report. The team found chunks of tar coming off," the official informed.
MIPL chief operating officer Abadhesh Prasad denied any such damage or existence of rough patches on the airport runway. "The runway is always under continuous maintenance and monitored by a team of ATC officials before every landing and take off," he said. However, sources said the ATC team only checks and clears the runway of foreign particles, like stones, dead animals etc, and has no rights to take action regarding rough patches on the runway.
The runway was last resurfaced six years back, in 2004, while in 1995 the then operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) had resurfaced it. Abadhesh Prasad admitted that due to rise in air traffic from airport, the existing runway needs immediate resurfacing. He said, "MIPL has appointed Span Consultancy to prepare a report for resurfacing of the entire operational area, including runway and old tarmac."
After submission of a report by Span, MIPL will invite bids to start resurfacing work. Apart from resurfacing of runway, powerful lights will also be installed on the taxiway which is plagued by power failures, he added. Normally, runways should be resurfaced every five years for safe operation of aircraft. Nagpur airport will need almost Rs 10 to 12 crore for resurfacing of runway and old tarmac, sources said.
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