Summary:
CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh airport is all set to spread its wings with wide-bodied aircraft, as the runway would be open to ‘category 4E aircraft’ from October 1. Other stakeholders, which participated in the meeting were Airports Authority of India (AAI), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL).IAF, which controls the runway and air traffic control (ATC) of local airport, had set a deadline for every work it is undertaking for the international airport. However, no such deadlines were set by other authorities including Gmada, which has to remove encroachments around the airbase and CHIAL and AAI, which has entrusted to some work related to airport. This will enable engine protection for all heavy aircraft including B-747 Jumbo.The existing working length of runway has also been extended from 7,200 feet to 8,600 feet with complete NLB work on this 8,600 feet stretch. It means the wide-bodied aircraft including Boeing 777 , B747-400, Airbus 330, and Boeing 787-800 (Dreamliner) would be able to operate from Chandigarh airport from October 1.The existing runway had a serious bottleneck, as it was not permissible to allow wide-bodied aircraft meant for long-haul flights to land.Explaining the development, highly-placed sources in the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is carrying out the runway carpeting work, told TOI that all the ‘turn pads’area at the end of runway for the purpose of manoeuvring the aircraft— are made for ‘Cat 4E’ class of aircraft to enable all the airbus class of aircraft to turn safely.Sources further informed that non-load bearing (NLB) surface of 7.5 metre width is catered for around all newlylaid and resurfaced areas..