‘Mumbai needs more aircraft stands’

Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport International Ltd (MIAL) has been advised by international consultant Netherlands Airports Consultants BV (NACO) to consider the decommissioning of one of the two existing runways (runway no 14/32), in an effort to allocate more land for remote aircraft stands (parking bays).
NACO, in its master plan, has also advised MIAL that the extent of the reduction should be assessed through simulation studies of the various options of the master plan.
Currently, the airport has more than 80 parking bays, but there is already a shortage of over-night aircraft parking, even as Indian carriers have major aircraft orders to be delivered in the next five years.
At present, the airport has two cross-runways designated 09/27 and 14/32. However, runway 14/32 is restricted to emergency operations only.
The proximity of the tower to runway 14/32 is a hazard to air navigation, a point made by an Indian government enquiry 11 years ago.
05/09/06 Sagar Malviya & Shilpa Shree/Financial Express

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