AAI flights develop snag at BIA

AAI flights develop snag at BIA
By Rasheed Kappan, DH News Service, Bangalore:
With the radar simulator not yet in place to train air traffic controllers and the calibration flights developing snags, the Airports Authority of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are engaged in a race against time to meet the May 11 rescheduled launch date for commercial operations at the Bengaluru International Airport.


The simulator equipment was to be installed by March 5. The deadline was extended to March 20. But till Monday, there was no indication when the critical radar simulator facility would be ready for training. “At this rate, the May 11 deadline would be ‘touch and go.’ The controllers will need at least 45 days’ training on the simulator,’” a top airport official told Deccan Herald.

Sources said the software for the radar simulator had not even reached Devanahalli. Training would be easy in a running airport, not in a simulated environment. Thus the need for 45 days, explained an airport source.

Calibration process

Meanwhile, the calibration process for various Air Traffic Control (ATC) equipment at BIA was hit after the AAI aircraft reportedly developed a snag. The Dornier aircraft had carried out several flight sorties on March 13 and 14, but the pilots left after the snag. “There are some gaps. The process will take some more time. There is also a problem of getting pilots,” said an official.

While the calibration for the Doppler High Frequency Omni Radar was completed, the process for the Instrument Landing System was pending, sources said.

Once the various ATC equipment are calibrated, they have to be switched on and kept in hot standby mode for 1,000 hours to help the personnel get adequately familiarised with the process.