BIA gets ready for the rains

BIA gets ready for the rains



Express News Service First Published : 04 Jun 2009 04:36:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: As heavy downpours are expected with the onset of monsoon, it won’t just be the vehicular traffic on the city roads that will be affected. Air traffic to and from Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), could also be hit.
Flight operations at BIA could take a beating due to severe weather conditions, as witnessed last month when two aircraft skidded off the airport’s runway. Subsequently, operations were shut down for a brief period.
Even as the two incidents - involving Emirates and Kingfisher Airlines - are under investigation by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is geared up to ensure that all facilities remain serviceable during monsoon.
“Specific pre-monsoon checks are done to ensure that all facilities are in serviceable during the monsoon. These checks are carried out in addition to the routine periodical checks that are done in the normal course.
BIA is equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), which allows the aircraft to operate even under conditions of poor visibility and low clouds,” officials told The New Indian Express.
The operations of the aircraft are governed by various safety regulations mandated by ICAO, DGCA and internal airline policies, they said.
Besides, all weather-related instruments at the airport are provided by the Meteorological Department of the Government of India. An advanced automatic weather information system, including sophisticated wind sensors, is also installed at the airport. However, there are possibilities of a few delays due to severe weather conditions like air turbulence, wind shear, strong cross winds, etc. “To ensure the safety of aircraft and its passengers, airlines may decide to delay the flights,” the officials added.
On the incidents involving the two aircraft which skidded off the runway due to rain, BIAL has stated that they were not caused due to any lapse or lack of facilities at the airport.
“The cause of the incidents is under investigation by DGCA and a conclusion can be arrived at, only after the probe,” said officials.