Aircraft aborts landing after pilot spots vehicle on runway
Driver Took It For Airport Rd, Zipped Across
Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com
Chennai: Times of india 07.09.2018
The pilot of an IndiGo aircraft had to abort his plan for landing and pull up after he spotted a vehicle crossing the runway at Chennai airport. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, when planes were being routed to land on the second runway as the main runway was closed for operation.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has kept the main runway closed for taxiway work daily, between 12.30pm and 6.30pm, and flights are handled by the second runway during the period.
“The IndiGo A320 aircraft was on its final approach to touch down on the GST Road end of the second runway (03 end), when the pilot spotted the vehicle on the runway. He made a quick decision to not land and revved up and flew away,” said a source. Planes glide down from 1,000feet to 550feet during final approach. AAI and the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) are investigating the incident.
Sources said the vehicle belonged to a contractor engaged for soil test in connection with the ongoing work to link the rapid exit taxiways to the main runway. The pilot reported the incident to the air traffic control and filed an incident report.
An official said the driver drove the vehicle across the second runway thinking it was part of a road inside the airport, to pick up a few workers on the other side. Work is underway on both sides of the runway.
Drivers engaged by contractors undergo a classroom training on speed limits and no-go zones before an airfield driving permit (ADP) is issued. A senior official said, “We stopped the runway work and did an investigation on the driver violating rules on driving inside an airfield.”
Airport director G Chandramouli said, “A watch-andward stopped the vehicle immediately. This incident happened despite drivers engaged by contractors undergoing training. We have adopted remedial measures.”
Sources said the incident points to poor coordination between the projects wing, which is in charge of the construction work, and staff in charge of operations at the airport.
QUICK THINKING: 1. IndiGo A320 aircraft on final approach for touchdown on 2nd runway around noon, as main runway is closed for work. The plane was gliding down from an altitude of 1,000ft to 500ft 2. The vehicle belonging to a contractor enters 2nd runway to pick up workers near it 3. The pilot spots the vehicle on time, lifts up and goes around
Driver Took It For Airport Rd, Zipped Across
Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com
Chennai: Times of india 07.09.2018
The pilot of an IndiGo aircraft had to abort his plan for landing and pull up after he spotted a vehicle crossing the runway at Chennai airport. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, when planes were being routed to land on the second runway as the main runway was closed for operation.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has kept the main runway closed for taxiway work daily, between 12.30pm and 6.30pm, and flights are handled by the second runway during the period.
“The IndiGo A320 aircraft was on its final approach to touch down on the GST Road end of the second runway (03 end), when the pilot spotted the vehicle on the runway. He made a quick decision to not land and revved up and flew away,” said a source. Planes glide down from 1,000feet to 550feet during final approach. AAI and the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) are investigating the incident.
Sources said the vehicle belonged to a contractor engaged for soil test in connection with the ongoing work to link the rapid exit taxiways to the main runway. The pilot reported the incident to the air traffic control and filed an incident report.
An official said the driver drove the vehicle across the second runway thinking it was part of a road inside the airport, to pick up a few workers on the other side. Work is underway on both sides of the runway.
Drivers engaged by contractors undergo a classroom training on speed limits and no-go zones before an airfield driving permit (ADP) is issued. A senior official said, “We stopped the runway work and did an investigation on the driver violating rules on driving inside an airfield.”
Airport director G Chandramouli said, “A watch-andward stopped the vehicle immediately. This incident happened despite drivers engaged by contractors undergoing training. We have adopted remedial measures.”
Sources said the incident points to poor coordination between the projects wing, which is in charge of the construction work, and staff in charge of operations at the airport.
QUICK THINKING: 1. IndiGo A320 aircraft on final approach for touchdown on 2nd runway around noon, as main runway is closed for work. The plane was gliding down from an altitude of 1,000ft to 500ft 2. The vehicle belonging to a contractor enters 2nd runway to pick up workers near it 3. The pilot spots the vehicle on time, lifts up and goes around
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