‘Near air mishap’ a media creation: Airport director

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The back-to-back arrival and departure of two aircraft with a minimum distance separation of two nautical miles at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Friday had the media speculating whether it was a 'near air mishap'. The incident involved aircraft belonging to the Emirates airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Trivandrum airport director G Chandramouli, however, rubbished the reports and said it was common practice in major airports to facilitate landing and take-off within a minute of each other. An outbound Emirates A330 aircraft, EK 521, with 211 passengers headed for Dubai was given clearance ahead of an Air India flight at 11.10am. "The AI pilot had requested clearance but was given second preference as the aircraft was still attached to the aerobridge. 

The 'near air mishap' story is nothing more than a bruised ego. I heard that someone from the AI tried to get Sri Lankan Airlines to lodge a complaint but they have not done it," said a source at the airport. The Sri Lankan Airlines flight, UL 161, with 154 passengers on board was running late and could have been given the option of making a go-around, but was asked to land. The source, a pilot, said he observed the Emirates flight leisurely exiting the runway and another flight landing at the same time,

"It could have appeared like an accident waiting to happen to anyone outside the cockpit," he said. The airport director has sought an inquiry following, media reports. "I am compiling a report with the joint GM and will hand it over to the Director General of Civil Aviation. It is up to the DGCA to decide whether the ATC should be blamed," he said.

Joint ATC director Shibu Robert said the airport requires a new ATC tower as the terminal buildings have moved away from the ATC tower. He suggests that new tower be located across the Parvathy Puthanar, behind a private hospital, around 50 meters in height so as to get a better view of the operational area. The ATC system in the airport is presently being upgraded.

A technology, developed by Indra Sistemas, a leading Spanish information and technology company specializing in defense systems, will automate the process of data distribution and increase the overall efficiency of the ATC system, Robert said. At present, officials at the ATC tower can control flight levels up to 18,000 ft. But the two flights in question were not within radar coverage. This situation will change with the new automation. The upgrade will help aircraft reach optimum flight levels, thereby reducing fuel consumption. The system will be installed next week said Robert.

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