Srinagar, Dec 22: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has ‘successfully completed’ the calibration of the much-needed Instrumentation Landing System (ILS) at the Srinagar International Airport, bringing respite to the airlines which are all set to use the latest landing facility.
The calibration of the equipment, which had started on Tuesday, was completed this afternoon. “We are done with the calibration of the ILS. It was successful,” said the Srinagar-based AAI director, Capt Raj K Malik, asserting that the calibration report has gone to various quarters for ratification.
Informed sources, privy to the calibration process, said the report has been sent to the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India New Delhi and the Indian Air Force for approval.
“The DGCA will go through all the technical data given in the report. After that it will issue NOTAM (notice to airmen) with regard to the functioning of the equipment. This shall be followed by allotment of a frequency to the airlines on which they can land at the airport, with the ILS in operation,” they said.
The Instrumentation Landing System, according to experts, is a ground-based instrumentation system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching the runway to enable its safe landing during reduced visibility conditions, common in Kashmir during winters.
Sources said an expert team, led by senior AAI pilot, Capt Johar, successfully completed the calibration of the equipment, worth Rs 2 crores. “A trial landing of an aircraft was also conducted at the airport during and after its calibration in the morning,” they said.
While Capt Johar has left for New Delhi, sources said the rest of the team members are still in Srinagar to put in place the necessary infrastructure for the ILS start.
“The team is now putting in place a remote control unit for the ILS. I must say that the entire calibration process was well coordinated by Capt Malik and his colleagues. There was also cooperation from the Indian Air Force which made the task easy and successful at the end of the day,” said an Airport officer, insisting not to be named.
The AAI had installed the ILS in 2009. Its installation, however, ran into a controversy between the AAI and the IAF, which mans the runway of the Srinagar aerodrome. Citing proposed runway expansion, the IAF wanted shifting of the equipment from the point where it was installed. The AAI, however, disagreed on the grounds that it would prove to be a costly affair. The tussle ended a month back after over two years of discord, with Capt Malik entering into negotiation with the Air Force, which agreed to its commissioning, albeit with certain conditions.
According to the airline officials, the DGCA must speed up the ILS approval process, given its ‘dire need’ at the Srinagar Airport. “Now that the calibration has been successful, the DGCA must not delay its approval and ensure that it is made operational as soon as possible,” said station manager of a commercial airline, appreciating the AAI and IAF concern over the issue.
Experts assert that with ILS in use, the commercial airliners should be able to land at 1200 meters visibility at the Srinagar airport. “This time the aircraft land at 2.5 kms. The ILS is a great facility which will enable their landing at 1000 to 1200 meters. That will be a big respite for the airlines in low visibility conditions in the Valley in winter which would often make their landing difficult and sometimes cause flight cancellation,” said the airport official.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST