Landing system upgrade: 550 flights delayed by 1 hour at Mumbai airport

Owing to unavailability of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and closure of main runway for seven hours, over 550 flights were delayed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) on Sunday. Senior officials said ILS upgradation is likely to be completed by May 31.

Tests are underway for an upgraded ILS, which will help pilots land with better precision. ILS is a standard International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) precision landing aid, used to provide guidance to aircraft while landing under normal or adverse weather conditions.

Upgradation work began on May 17 and is scheduled to continue till June 5. “Two components of ILS, localiser and glide path, are being upgraded. Most of the upgrading work has been completed,” said official.

On Sunday, there was an average delay of more than an hour after flight operations were switched to secondary runway (14-32). Average delay of 45 minutes was witnessed by arriving flights. Airport officials said the main runway would be closed on Monday from 2pm to 5pm.

Spokesperson for airport operator, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), said the main runway was shut for ILS work. “The delays on Sunday did not result in diversion or cancellation of flights,” he added.