Finally,ILS functions at Chandigarh Airport

The ILS has been procured by Airports Authority of India (AAI) but will also be used by Indian Air Force’s (IAF) transport aircraft like AN-32 and IL-76. It will aid in the the landing of flights during reduced visibility in weather events like fog and rainfall,and also help in informing the pilot about the angle of descent and approach to the runway.

During a press conference at the Station Headquarters of 12 Wing,Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Commodore Rajeev Sachdeva informed,“At Chandigarh we were using the Category 1 kind of ILS. It was not being used at any airport and [so we were not getting the spare parts. Though our aircraft were able to land,civil aircraft were either going back to Delhi or flights were getting cancelled even when visibility was less than 3 km.”

Airport Controller Capt H S Toor,who was also present at the conference,added that AAI was doing ILS’ ground and air certification and it would take two more days to put it in operation. A special aircraft has come for air certification. For the last six days,no flight could take off or land at the city airport due to low visibility caused by fog.

“This ILS is Cat-3 but will be operated as Cat 1 as the approaching lights are for this category only. Gradually,however,we will upgrade it,” said AOC Sachdeva.

He added that the airport was selected for Cat 2 upgradation and the project had been pending at the Air Headquarters,New Delhi.

Cat-1 requires a decision height of not less than 200 feet and visibility of not less than 1.2 km whereas Cat-2 works at a decision height not less than 100 feet and visibility not less than 200 meters.