Runway ‘overlap’ delays shift to Juhu

The AAI also concluded at a meeting on January 6 that the Juhu airport infrastructure is not yet ready to accommodate additional movements.

Shifting small aircraft movements from CSIA to Juhu was planned to open up additional slots at CSIA for commercial flights. It would also reduce flight delays to an extent.

On December 10 last year,AAI succeeded in shifting all helicopter operations from CSIA to Juhu. Officials have not put a date on the small aircraft shift.

Currently,CSIA keeps the main runway 09-27 closed for renovation from 9 am to 5 pm and during this time,the secondary runway 14-32 is in use. As Juhu airport is open for operations only from 6 am to 6 pm,for at least eight hours air traffic controllers at CSIA would have a tough time maintaining radar separation for aircraft movement between the CSIA’s secondary runway 14-32 and Juhu airport’s 08-26,AAI officials said. This is because all aircraft have to align themselves on the CSIA radar before they can be handed over to Juhu.

The existing Notice to Airmen for main runway renovation is expected to continue till July. Till then 14-32 will be CSIA’s chief runway instead of 09-27. AAI officials also said they are still upgrading the Juhu airport infrastructure to make the shift smoother.

“January 10 was the proposed date for the shift,but some work still needs to be done. We are awaiting instructions from headquarters,” said P K Nagpal,regional executive director of AAI,Western Region.

“Small operators said they would be happy to shift if there is better infrastructure. We are in the process of levelling and grading the runway 08-26. We hope BMC will take up the removal of obstructions. We have only been able to undertake apron renovation,” said an AAI official.

Operators have welcomed the move. “It is good to revive Juhu airport to decongest CSIA,” said Captain Mihir Bhagwati,president of the Bombay Flying Club.