New ATC tower at airport put on trial

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 20, 2015: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Monday began round the clock operations at its new air traffic control tower at Mangaluru International Airport on a trial basis, director of the airport J. T. Radhakrishna has said.

The tower provides air traffic services to the arriving and departing flights at the airport up to 60 nautical miles from the airport.

He said in a release that as per the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) the trial operations would go on for a month. This would be followed by temporary regular operations for two months.

The DGCA would review the operations after three months and approve the permanent commissioning of the new 25-metre high tower. The new ATC provided a 360-degree view of the old and new runways, approaches to the runways and parking bays, Mr. Radhakrishna told The Hindu . The existing tower does not provide a clear visibility of approaches for the incoming flights beyond the old and new runways.

The court of inquiry after the airplane crash at the airport in May 2010 had recommended a new high tower on a permanent basis for clear visibility, and fixed a deadline of June 30, 2014 for it.

The new air-conditioned tower has two elevators (lifts), a generator, weather radar and all other communication facilities.

 

Courtesy: The Hindu