Pilots warned as Chennai airport runway turns slippery

Chennai: Pilots have to be extra careful from now while landing at Chennai airport, especially on rainy days. The problem of a slippery runway has re-surfaced. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has informed airmen in a notice that the friction co-efficient of the main runway at Chennai airport has gone “below the notified value of 0.34 and is liable to be slippery when wet.”

“If friction co-efficient is below 0.34, it is dangerous when runway is wet. The DGCA should stop operations in wet conditions,” said aviation expert Capt A. Ranganathan. The friction coefficient reduces when the rubber from the aircraft tyre gets deposited on the runway. It could potentially lead to skidding of the aircraft. To improve friction coefficient, the milling work to remove rubber deposits should be done.

“Currently the friction coefficient level on the main runway at Chennai airport is slightly less than 0.34 at the intersection. It is around 0.32 to 0.34. As per the laid down safety procedure, remedial action is being taken. Due to continued operations at the airport, the balance work will be completed on Tuesday during the maintenance period between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm,” said Chennai airport assistant general manager (PR) Harbhajan Singh.

According to him, the AAI has decided to re-carpet the main runway soon. “The private contractor who was to take over the Chennai airport was expected to do the re-carpeting work. But now, on the constant persuasion of the airport director, the AAI has given permission to start the work soon. We expect the whole exercise to take a minimum of six months,” he added.

“We will soon conduct a meeting with various airlines and agencies so that they can reschedule their flight plans well in advance,” he further said. It may be noted that the secondary runway at the city airport was re-opened recently for aircraft operations.

“The secondary runway will be used mainly during NOTAM periods on the main runway and also in emergent situations,” he added.

Minister to discuss poor upkeep of city airport

Taking a grim view of complaints regarding poor upkeep of newly-modernised Chennai airport, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has called a meeting of senior officers later this week. The move came in the wake of a surprise inspection by senior ministry officials, which showed severe shortcomings in the airport, official sources said here.

During the inspection, the officials found unclean toilets, window panes falling off and a dirty food court, the sources said.  The meeting, convened on Thursday, will be attended by the airport director and other senior officials here, they said. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports by the Airports Authority of India in August 2008.