Mumbai:
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Plane truth: The main runway of the airport is severely worn out and has pieces of burnt aircraft tyres all over, which can affect a plane's braking system |
On Friday, airport officials conducting regular checks on the main runway (09-27) at the airport found the tarmac, at the point of touchdown, severely worn out and caked with pieces of burnt rubber. They make the surface extremely slippery, endangering lives when any aircraft lands.
The rubber pieces flake off the wheels, while landing, due to heat-induced erosion and can affect the aircraft's braking action.
And a slippery runway means a large aircraft would require around 40 per cent more runway length for landing.
So obviously, repairs are mandatory if accidents are to be avoided. Said an official at the apron control (department that looks after the runways), "We have advised the immediate closure of the main runway for three days to carry out the repairs. But despite our warning, no decision has been taken, nothing has been done."
A decision to close the runway means 650 flights and 3.5 lakh passengers (as per the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation), will be disrupted. In rupee terms, it means a loss of over Rs 20 crore. So, in a toss up between this and repairs, airport officials are unwilling to close the runway.
But the decision, or rather a lack of decision to shut the runway can be dangerous. According to runway operations expert Mohan Ranganathan, the runway repairs have to be carried out on an urgent basis. "This is a problem that cannot be ignored," said Ranganathan. "When an aircraft lands, extensive heat is generated and the melted rubber from the tyres get deposited on the runway. With 650 landings every day, the point of touchdown becomes slippery and jeopardizes safe landing," he added. But M G Jhungare, GM (aerodrome) said, "Closing down the runway for three days is not easy. A lot of planning and thinking is required." For instance, every single airline â domestic and international â using the airport have to be intimated and an okay is difficult.
The runway is repaired every Friday, when it closes down between 12 pm and 4 pm. But, say airport officials, the time is insufficient for a thorough clean-up. During the time the main runway is closed, the secondary runway is used, but only if wind conditions are conducive to landing, as this strip is excessively windy.
The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson said, "Due to bad weather it was not possible to carry out regular runway maintenance for the last few days and so, as required by ICAO regulations, we have informed the air traffic control about the runway conditions."
