'Mangaluru International Airport has evolved since IX812 air-crash into safer facility'

MANGALURU: Mangaluru International Airport has put a premium on safety ever since IX812 crashed on May 22, 2010. Dictated largely by the Gokhale Court of Inquiry (CoI) report that Air Marshal (Retd) Bhushan Nilkanth Gokhale, fighter pilot and former vice-chief of IAF who headed the CoI in to the air crash gave, Airports Authority of India that owns MIA has invested in upgrading safety aspects that can help avert any such incidents in future.
Primary to ensuring safety is the commissioning of Instrument Landing System (CAT I ILS) as against CAT IIIB ILS in use at Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi last year, says V V Rao, airport director, MIA. In an informal chat with TOI in wake of crash of IX-1344 at Kozhikode, Rao said MIA has internalised the various lessons learnt from IX812 crash and has consistently strived to adhere to every single aspect that enhances safety.
Accordingly, as recommended by the CoI, firefighting systems have been upgraded keeping in mind the topography in which they would be required to operate. Air navigational system has been upgraded. MIA now has Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR), a type of short-range radio navigation system for aircraft. The apron has been improved and the new air traffic control tower gives a commanding view of the entire runway, he said.
State government too has constructed roads around the airport to enable emergency response vehicles of AAI to reach there within the stipulated response time addressing a major lacuna that authorities faced when the IX812 crash happened, he said. With every agency involved taking care to upgrade safety measures, Rao said DGCA that regulates functioning of aircraft and airports in India too keeps a tight leash on safety by way of surprise inspections.
Aviation safety wing of AAI too carries out periodic and surprise inspections and their reports are acted on to ensure safety and well being of the stakeholders using the airport, he said. “We have evolved as an airport over the years (especially since the IX812 crash),” Rao said adding the safety management system as dictated by DGCA guidelines are fully in vogue at the airport. Periodic checks and mock exercise too helps the airport maintain its edge, he surmised.