Peak-hour use of runways to make touchdown faster

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to make the two runways at IGI operational simultaneously during the peak hours and drastically cut down the long hovering periods of aircraft before landing within the next seven to 10 days.
Since April 1, the runways are being operated together on a trial basis from 10 am to noon and 4 to 6 pm. "The trial run has been encouraging. The response from the ATCs and airlines has been good and now we want to shift the timing to peak hours so that the real benefit of this system can be felt,"said airport sources.
The worst delays happen between 8-11 am and 5-9 pm as there is a long line of aircraft waiting to land and take-off.
However, airlines warn that passengers may not have to wait in air, but their ground troubles won't disappear. The domestic arrival terminal, I-B and international terminals are so cramped that they just won't be able to clear passengers at the same pace at which planes would be able to land or take-off.
13/04/06 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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