Mumbai: In an unlikely event of US President Barack Obama's Air Force One not able to land in Delhi due to fog, the Mumbai International Airport is being readied as an alternative venue for the VVIP visit on Sunday. Obama is scheduled to be the chief guest at the January 26 Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.
Acontingency plan for a 'fall back' airport had to be taken since the Air Force One is expected to touch down sometime early Sunday. "Though the aircraft is equipped to land in almost zero visibility conditions, operations at Delhi airport have to be suspended if runway visibility drops below 50 mt. This will necessitate an alternate destination where there is no fog and this is where Mumbai comes into picture," a senior official said.
Not wanting to take any chances, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stopped issuing temporary entry passes to the airport till January 26. These passes are used by people who need to enter the airport for official purposes, the duration of which is time bound.
While in India, Obama's plane will not be allotted a special air route. "We will ensure that the plane lands safely and without any problem. It does not require special airspace closure. When the US President is flying out of the country, that's when we may have to hold other air traffic," a senior official in the Civil Aviation Ministry said.
22/01/15 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
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Acontingency plan for a 'fall back' airport had to be taken since the Air Force One is expected to touch down sometime early Sunday. "Though the aircraft is equipped to land in almost zero visibility conditions, operations at Delhi airport have to be suspended if runway visibility drops below 50 mt. This will necessitate an alternate destination where there is no fog and this is where Mumbai comes into picture," a senior official said.
Not wanting to take any chances, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stopped issuing temporary entry passes to the airport till January 26. These passes are used by people who need to enter the airport for official purposes, the duration of which is time bound.
While in India, Obama's plane will not be allotted a special air route. "We will ensure that the plane lands safely and without any problem. It does not require special airspace closure. When the US President is flying out of the country, that's when we may have to hold other air traffic," a senior official in the Civil Aviation Ministry said.
22/01/15 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror
