By IANS,
Chandigarh : Chandigarh airport’s only Instrument Landing System (ILS), used for the safe landing of flights in case of poor visibility due to bad weather or fog, has been out of order for the last few months. Airport authorities say it will take four-five months to replace it.
“The ILS device is out of order for the last few months. We informed the concerned higher authorities and the Indian Air Force about this and requested for an immediate replacement,” a senior official of Chandigarh airport, requesting not to be named, told IANS Sunday.
He added: “The present ILS is based on outdated technology and we were facing many problems because of this. Without the ILS, our flights are frequently getting delayed. The flights either have to remain in the sky, wait for the weather to clear, or go to Delhi or Amritsar airport, which obviously leads to wastage of fuel and resources.”
Being primarily a military airfield, all air traffic control facilities, including navigational and landing aids and other safety measures, are the responsibility of the Indian Air Force at Chandigarh airport.
“The faulty ILS will be replaced very soon. We are already working in this direction and we will try to install it at the earliest,” said Naresh Vijay Wig, defence spokesperson.
In normal conditions, a plane can land safely if the visibility is upto 2,800-3,000 meters. The ILS can help if visibility is reduced to 1,200-1,400 meters.
Chandigarh airport is frequented by various celebrities and politicians while moving to other states.
Last week, Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, had to remain in air in her private chopper for more than an hour waiting for the weather to clear. She had come here to watch a cricket match.
Everyday, over a dozen flights arrive and depart from this airport and all the major airlines like Air India, Jet Airways, Kingfisher, Go Air and MDLR operate from here.
Recently a joint venture was signed between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the governments of Punjab and Haryana for the execution of a multi-million rupee project for an international airport at Chandigarh.
The project being developed on an area of more than 300 acres at village Jheorheri in Punjab, adjoining Chandigarh, will be an extension of the existing airport.