Delhi Airport's runway upgrade promises enhanced safety and efficiency

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is poised to reach a significant milestone as all four runways are expected to achieve full operational status in the first week of January 2024. The re-carpeting work on Runway 28/10 is nearing completion, pending final checks by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over the upcoming weekend. Official sources suggest that the DGCA's pending inspection is anticipated to wrap up this week, paving the way for regulatory approval and subsequent operational readiness of Runway 28/10. The Ministry of Civil Aviation emphasises that the activation of all runways, especially Runway 28/10, will result in smoother air traffic operations at Delhi airport. The reopening of Runway 28/10 will increase the number of CAT-III-compliant runways at Delhi Airport, thereby contributing to improved flight scheduling capabilities. The closure of Runway 28/10 for scheduled re-carpeting since mid-September aimed at enhancing infrastructure is expected to tackle recent challenges faced by passengers due to delays and diversions caused by dense fog in Delhi. Recent operational challenges, especially during dense fog, have led to an increase in flight diversions. Notably, 50 out of 58 diversions between December 25th and 28th were attributed to pilots lacking CAT-III training. The significance of CAT-III training for pilots is underscored, as it equips them to safely land aircraft in dense fog conditions with visibility as low as about 100 meters. The completion of the re-carpeting of Runway 28/10 aligns with efforts to enhance safety and efficiency in adverse weather conditions.