BHUBANESWAR: The Veer Surendra Sai (VSS) Airport, Jharsuguda, which recently drew flak for series of cancellation of flights due to bad weather, will have Instrument Landing System (ILS) soon.
The ILS is a device, also known as radio navigation system, can provide an aircraft with horizontal and vertical guidance before and during landing in case of low visibility due to fog or heavy rain.
The ILS system cost the airport Rs 5.5 crore. Currently, the airport has only Visual Flight Rule (VFR) operations system, which can’t help aircraft land in low visibility.
Suresh Chandra Hota, director, Biju Patnaik International Airport, said since the Jharsuguda airport witnessed low visibility continuously due to bad weather most part of the year leading to delays and cancellation of flights, the new navigational facility will be introduced. “After the ILS installation, which will take about six months, the Jharsuguda airport will become all-weather one. This will ensure more regular service which will benefit both airlines and passengers,” said Hota.
The VSS airport was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on September 22 last year. The airport has been designed for all-weather purpose, night operations, which can facilitate landing of A-320 type aircrafts. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) developed it in collaboration with state government at an estimated cost of Rs 210 crore with state contribution of Rs 75 crore.
At least five flights were cancelled on a single day on July 1. Subsequently also many flights stood cancelled due to bad weather causing severe inconvenience to the passengers.
The VSS airport is the second one in the state after the Capital city to provide connectivity between Bhubaneswar-Raipur and Ranchi. Jharsuguda being an industrial town and Raipur a commercial capital, VSS airport was expected to serve as a hub to bridge the connectivity gap between coastal and western Odisha. Raipur is close to several western Odisha districts.
The ILS is a device, also known as radio navigation system, can provide an aircraft with horizontal and vertical guidance before and during landing in case of low visibility due to fog or heavy rain.
The ILS system cost the airport Rs 5.5 crore. Currently, the airport has only Visual Flight Rule (VFR) operations system, which can’t help aircraft land in low visibility.
Suresh Chandra Hota, director, Biju Patnaik International Airport, said since the Jharsuguda airport witnessed low visibility continuously due to bad weather most part of the year leading to delays and cancellation of flights, the new navigational facility will be introduced. “After the ILS installation, which will take about six months, the Jharsuguda airport will become all-weather one. This will ensure more regular service which will benefit both airlines and passengers,” said Hota.
The VSS airport was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi on September 22 last year. The airport has been designed for all-weather purpose, night operations, which can facilitate landing of A-320 type aircrafts. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) developed it in collaboration with state government at an estimated cost of Rs 210 crore with state contribution of Rs 75 crore.
At least five flights were cancelled on a single day on July 1. Subsequently also many flights stood cancelled due to bad weather causing severe inconvenience to the passengers.
The VSS airport is the second one in the state after the Capital city to provide connectivity between Bhubaneswar-Raipur and Ranchi. Jharsuguda being an industrial town and Raipur a commercial capital, VSS airport was expected to serve as a hub to bridge the connectivity gap between coastal and western Odisha. Raipur is close to several western Odisha districts.
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