Airbus A320 lands, takes off at Mopa, airport’s certification process done

Panaji: The validation of flying operations and critical navigational equipment continues at the greenfield airport at Mopa, with GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) successfully clearing the required navigation performance tests on Monday.
An Airbus A320 aircraft from IndiGo executed two touch-and-go landings (TGL) or circuit, one from each direction of the runway, as part of the tests, which began around 11.15am.
“As a part of testing protocol, a commercial flight of Indigo Airlines A320 aircraft, which came from Mumbai with DGCA officials on-board, successfully landed at Mopa airport’s new runway,” said chief minister Pramod Sawant. “The infrastructural dream for the all-round development of Goa is ready to begin its operation soon.”
Officials from the directorate general of civil aviation and flight safety experts were present aboard the aircraft as it followed the landing approach and the take-off waypoints from the GGIAL airport.
This test checks if the pilots can fly an aircraft along a pre-defined flight path with precise way points towards the runway. This gives pilots an accurate alignment with the runway while landing, ensuring efficient fuel consumption at lower altitudes. The information also helps airlines and the airport management to fix arrival, approach, and departure schedules and ensures efficient use of the airspace around the airport.
“We have successfully completed the required navigation performance procedure,” said chief executive officer of GGIAL Ranganathan Venkata Sheshan. “This procedure not only offers safety benefits by means of its precision and accuracy, but it also enhances operational efficiency by minimising multiple reduction in altitude and inaccurate circling approaches.”
The IndiGo A320 took off from Mumbai and landed at the Mopa airfield around 11.15am. It then took off and performed a touch and go, circled around the airport, performed another touch and go from the other direction of the runway, and then landed and taxied to one of the parking bays. The aircraft was given a water cannon welcome by the emergency services. Once the tests were completed, the aircraft returned to Mumbai around 3pm.
In mid-July, the Airports Authority of India successfully completed calibration of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the upcoming airport, which is expected to be inaugurated in a month’s time. Once the ILS is calibrated, an efficient approach path is prepared for both ends of the runway. This approach path is then tested and validated first on a flight simulator and after that using an actual aircraft.
“During this process, the defined flight path is tested by flying an aircraft equipped with RNP equipment. Upon successful validation and approval, the procedures are published and promulgated for use by all airlines,” said Sheshan, who described the tests as a “very important milestone” ahead of the commissioning of the airport.
This information is crucial for pilots and airlines, particularly when weather conditions are not favourable and the pilot has to rely on instrument landing systems. Ground operations were handled by Celebi Aviation Holding, which has bagged the contract for ground handling operations.
“As an airport operator, GGIAL is working to make the new Goa International Airport the airport of choice for airlines, passengers and all stakeholders,” said Sheshan.