To make flight operations smooth during low Visibility Period (lVP), Delhi International Airport limited (DIAl) has made extensive arrangements.
With the ATC, DIAl has introduced Pre-Departure Sequencing tool as part of the Delhi Airport-Collaborative Decision Making (DA-CDM) process. Dense fog, which had disrupted flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International airport last week, is likely to return again on Wednesday even as the airport authorities said they are fully prepared to handle the situation.
Hundreds of flights were delayed and many cancelled besides diversion of more the two dozen IGIA-bound aircraft to the nearby airports after dense fog hit the National capital last week.
According to DIAl CEO I Prabhakara Rao, we are fully prepared to handle flight operations this year.
CAT-IIIB system installed at Delhi Airport is capable of handling flight arrivals with Runway Visibility Range of up to 50 M.
"Delhi fog is a stellar example of synergy among Air Traffic Controllers, Airlines, Ground Handlers, MET and Airport staff. At an operational level it talks volumes of our capabilities of Emergency preparedness and Crises response.
"The enhanced version of DA-CDM, which was introduced last year has shown good results. It has enabled faster recovery at the time of flight disruption during low visibility condition. It ensures optimum utilisation of ATC resources, runways, resulting in reduced workload of controllers, minimum ground delays, reduced radio telephony congestion and increased level of safety," he said.
Rao further said the MET has installed 18 RVR devices at Delhi Airport with full redundancy on main RWYs 11/29 and 10/28 and partial redundancy on RWY 27.
"We aim to reduce delays and congestion due to fog, by devising a plan that would ensure smooth flow of flight information, on an almost real time basis, to the passengers" he said.
Three runways at the IGI Airport; 28, 29 and 11 are certified for CAT III B operations, which would allow landing of the compliant aircrafts with visibility as low as 50 meters, Aircraft can take off with visibility of 125 M.
AK Bhardwaj, General Manager, Air Traffic Movement (ATM)-ATC, said the AAI has made all the necessary arrangements to ensure uninterrupted provision of safe, efficient and orderly Air Traffic Services at IGI Airport.
"The process of Fog-CDM will lead to optimal utilisation of the airport capacity and fuel saving for airlines, resulting in less carbon emissions and environmental gains for the community," said Bhardwaj.