• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager
• BL Club
• Smartbuy
• Books
• Gallery

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth
• Events 2007

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

The recent near-collision of two aircraft at Mumbai airport, was only bound to happen. With more than 700 aircraft movements per day and a single operational runway (the other runway being utilised for taxiing) Mumbai airport is on the verge of collapse.

Politicians, with an eye on the vote-bank, are unable to clear the encroachments and there is not enough space for a parallel runway; thus, runway 09/27 of the Mumbai airport must be the most used in the world.

Arrivals and departures are delayed because the only runway is saturated. Instead of providing a parallel runway, pressure is exerted from top to use the crossing runway also simultaneously. This is a very dangerous practice that should be avoided at all costs.

Already, there have been dangerous incidents and near-misses when both runways were used at the same time. The present layout of crossing runways does not permit simultaneous operation and, if it is continued, a Tenerife- like accident (where two B747 aircraft collided on the runway, killing more than 500 people) may happen.

Until the new airport is ready, it is going to be difficult for passengers using the Mumbai airport.

C. Vijaykumar Former Director Goa, Calicut, Coimbatore Airports

More Stories on : Letters | Accidents | Airlines

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line