Mumbai: In a first, Mumbai air traffic controllers (ATC) achieved the Herculean task of handling 51 aircraft in an hour at the congested city international airport earlier this week.
This is the highest record ever for the airport which has two cross runways, as a result of which, only one runway can be used at a time.
The declared capacity of the main runway (27) is 38, while the average number of aircraft handled is 40-42, which happens only when all taxiways are available and the weather and visibility are good.
"About three days ago, we were amazed that we handled 51 aircraft an hour. The busiest single runway airport is London Gatwick that handles 100 planes an hour," said a source. While a new record may have been created, Mumbai ATC is working in a "pressure cooker" situation. "Mumbai has 250 air traffic controllers while the city needs at least 200 more. In the last three years the number of ATCs has dropped from 275 to 250 as no one wants to come here," said a source.
20/09/14 Times of India
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This is the highest record ever for the airport which has two cross runways, as a result of which, only one runway can be used at a time.
The declared capacity of the main runway (27) is 38, while the average number of aircraft handled is 40-42, which happens only when all taxiways are available and the weather and visibility are good.
"About three days ago, we were amazed that we handled 51 aircraft an hour. The busiest single runway airport is London Gatwick that handles 100 planes an hour," said a source. While a new record may have been created, Mumbai ATC is working in a "pressure cooker" situation. "Mumbai has 250 air traffic controllers while the city needs at least 200 more. In the last three years the number of ATCs has dropped from 275 to 250 as no one wants to come here," said a source.
20/09/14 Times of India
