ATC official says the lack of Surface Movement Radar leaves aircraft controllers blind; Jet, AI mishap averted only as it happened during the day
ATC official says the lack of Surface Movement Radar leaves aircraft controllers blind; Jet, AI mishap averted only as it happened during the dayPassengers and crew of the Jet Airways and Air India flights that almost collided on Sunday at the Mumbai airport were saved by sunlight and sheer luck. As a senior Air Traffic Control (ATC) official put it, "Had it been dark, they would have collided, in the absence of the Surface Movement Radar (SMR)."
SMR acts as the eyes of the aircraft controllers by giving them a clear picture of all moving and stationary objec-ts in the airport's operational area on a large screen. It was removed in 2005. "It will be installed only when the new ATC tower (being planned) is commissioned in 2011," said a Mumbai International Airport Ltd official.
Incidentally, Sunday was the trial day for 24/7 cross-runway operations, which is why both planes were on the runway at the same time.
Said aviation expert Vipul Saxena, "The incident would have ended in tragedy had there been the slightest delay, as the Jet Airways aircraft needed more length for stopping since the wind was blowing in the same direction as that of the course of the aircraft (tail wind condition), giving it added momentum."
He added that a joint committee of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India should study the incident, so that it can mitigate the possible threats involved in cross-runway operations. He added that safer flying should be ensured either by giving the ATC staff a refresher course or by replacing them with new crew.
Meanwhile, the DGCA is unhappy that past freak incidents at the airport have gone unreported. Naseem Zaidi, director general of civil aviation, said, "We have asked Mumbai ATC to file a detailed report [on Sunday's incident] since several incidents have gone unreported."
Mumbai ATC chief M G Jhungare was unavailable for comment.
Decision 24/7Till now, the secondary runway (cross-runway) could be used simultaneously only for eight hours from 5.30 am to 9.30 am and 3 pm to 7 pm. The decision to have it operational 24/7 was taken recently. If visibility is over 3,000 m and ATC has enough personnel, both runways can be used simultaneously throughout the day.
