Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport on Saturday made operational 420m of approach lighting system that will help pilots land their aircraft even if visibility falls to below 1,000m.
It will be a boon for passengers and airlines during foggy weather that envelops the Patna sky and leads to inordinate delays of flights, making flying in and out of Patna a troublesome affair.
“We have made operational 420m of approach lights towards the eastern side of the runway today (December 8) at noon. We got the approval last (Friday) evening on International Civil Aviation Day. Pilots can use it to land at the airport in a visibility of 1,000m,” said Patna airport director Rajender Singh Lahauria.
Lahauria claimed it as a major achievement as it will cut delays due to inclement weather conditions in winter. “At present, flights can land at Patna airport in a minimum visibility of 1,200m. Reducing the criteria by 200m will be a shot in the arm towards maintaining the flight schedule,” Lahauria added.
The Telegraph had reported in September that the Patna airport was installing approach lighting system (ALS) to ensure that flights land on time in foggy weather and are not diverted to other airports outside the state.
ALS extends from the approach end of airstrips. It helps pilots in visual identification of landing environment and in aligning the aircraft with the runway on arriving at a prescribed point while approaching it. It significantly enhances the safety of aircraft operations, particularly in conditions of reduced visibility like foggy or rainy conditions.
The approach lights for Patna airport had extended around 210m outward from the eastern end of the runway so far. The new lights extend outside the airport premises on Peer Ali Marg adjacent to the airport, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Patna zoo) and also on the premises of government bungalows along Strand Road.
“Our next step will be to extend the ALS up to 720m next year on the eastern end. It will allow the aircraft to land even if the visibility is as low as 750m. We cannot extend ALS on the western end of the airstrip because there is no space,” Lahauria said.
