Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of India’s largest and busiest airports, is gearing up to enhance its operational capabilities during low visibility conditions, particularly fog, with the activation of its second Category III (CAT-III) compliant runway. This strategic move aims to mitigate the impact of flight delays caused by adverse weather, offering a more reliable and efficient experience for air travelers.
In aviation terminology, Category III (CAT III) refers to an advanced instrument landing system (ILS) approach designed to facilitate landings in extremely low visibility conditions resulting from factors like fog, rain, or snow. The CAT-III system supports precision approaches and landings, even when runway visibility is as low as 50 feet (15 meters), and the visual range is between 50 and 200 meters.
The activation of the second CAT-III runway was initially delayed by a month due to pollution incidents and the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi to combat air pollution. However, according to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the maintenance work has been prioritized and is set to be completed this week.
“The maintenance was taken as a top priority to be completed by 15 Dec before the onset of the fog season…The revamped runway is getting operational this week,” stated Scindia.
Improved fog conditions on Wednesday resulted in a notable reduction in the impact on flight operations at Delhi airport. No flight diversions were reported, and delays were significantly reduced to approximately 50 flights. In contrast, Tuesday witnessed dense fog in the national capital, leading to 128 flight delays and 33 cancellations.
Delhi airport currently operates with three runways: 27/9, 29R-11L, and 29L-11R. Among these, 29R-11L and 29L-11R are CAT-III compliant. While 29R-11L is already CAT-III compliant from one side, officials anticipate achieving CAT-III certification for landings from both sides by February. Operational challenges for runway 29L-11R were encountered due to cranes obstructing the landing path for the construction of the Dwarka Expressway.
Scindia explained, “The crane was being used for the construction of another critical infrastructure project – the Dwarka Expressway. However, in view of its impact on the runway, it has now been decided that the crane operation shall be allowed only on non-fog days. Thus, RWY 29L/11R is operational as CAT III as of yesterday.”
With the imminent operationalization of runway 28/10, the Delhi airport is poised to have three CAT-III compliant runways by the end of the week. This significant enhancement is expected to considerably reduce flight delays during foggy conditions, offering a more reliable and efficient air travel experience.
India has witnessed a substantial increase in the number of CAT II and CAT III trained pilots, growing from 2,416 in 2014 to 6,191 currently. Over the last three months, the total count has seen a 16% increase from 5,332, signaling a positive trend in the aviation sector’s readiness to handle low visibility situations.
CAT-II landings, which involve a precision instrument approach with a decision height of 30-60 meters and a minimum runway visual range of 300 meters, contribute to improved safety and operational efficiency, especially in adverse weather conditions.