Fog preparedness meet held at Imphal Airport
|
Imphal, Dec 13 : In view of the onset of the winter fog season, the Airports Autho-rity of India (AAI), Imphal Airport, convened a fog preparedness meeting with the objective of minimizing flight diversions and cance- llations while ensuring smooth, safe, and passenger-centric airport operations.
The meeting chaired by Chipemmi Keishing, Director of Imphal Airport was attended by K Ambethkar, Scientist ‘D’ at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Imphal; Kiran Khade, CASO, CISF; Heads of Departments of AAI; and all Airline Station Managers.
Deliberations focused on ensuring safe, seamless, and efficient flight operations during fog-prone conditions, with particular emphasis on inter-agency coordination, operational preparedness, and timely decision-making to enhance passenger experience.
The Airport Director informed that all operational systems are fully functional and readiness-certified, and that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for fog management are firmly in place to ensure uninterrupted operations through- out the winter season.
To mitigate passenger inconvenience during weather-related delays, several passenger-centric faci- litation measures have been ensured, including additional seating arrangements, adequate availability of food and beverages, essential medicines, sanitary items, and timely dissemination of flight-related information, he said.
Coordination meetings were also held with taxi operators and nearby hotels to ensure preparedness and quality passenger services during contingencies.
A dedicated inter-departmental communication group has been constituted to enable real-time coordination and swift decision-making.
Further, a dedicated Operations Control Room has been established at AAI, Imphal, to provide immediate assistance and coordination, and can be contacted at 9402880368.
Emphasizing operational continuity, the Airport Director stated that a comprehensive mock exercise on fog preparedness involving all departments, agencies, and stakeholders has been successfully conducted.
He reiterated that flight cancellations and diversions should be avoided to the maximum extent possible, assuring that all necessary operational and logistical support would be extended whenever required.
It was also decided that scheduled flights would be accorded priority over diverted flights, in the interest of passenger convenience and operational discipline.
The meeting concluded with a collective reaffirmation of commitment by all stakeholders to ensure safe, efficient, and passenger-friendly operations at Imphal Airport throughout the winter fog season.
It is reported that Imphal Airport is equipped with a Category-I Instrument Landing System (ILS) and comprehensive Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) infrastructure, including Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), Simple Approach Lighting System (SALS), guard lights, and aeronautical ground lighting, enabling safe and efficient aircraft operations under low-visibility conditions.
The existing CAT-I ILS facilitates aircraft landing operations with minimum weather requirements of visibility/RVR of 800 metres / 550 metres, in accordance with prevailing regulatory standards.
To further enhance operational safety and situational awareness during reduced visibility, a transmissometer providing accurate, real-time Runway Visual Range (RVR) data has been commissioned and has been fully operational since July 2024. The availability of real-time RVR information significantly strengthens Air Traffic Control and flight crew decision-making during adverse weather conditions, the report added.
Additionally, the Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) for Imphal Airport have been recently approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it added.
The meeting chaired by Chipemmi Keishing, Director of Imphal Airport was attended by K Ambethkar, Scientist ‘D’ at India Meteorological Department (IMD), Imphal; Kiran Khade, CASO, CISF; Heads of Departments of AAI; and all Airline Station Managers.
Deliberations focused on ensuring safe, seamless, and efficient flight operations during fog-prone conditions, with particular emphasis on inter-agency coordination, operational preparedness, and timely decision-making to enhance passenger experience.
The Airport Director informed that all operational systems are fully functional and readiness-certified, and that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for fog management are firmly in place to ensure uninterrupted operations through- out the winter season.
To mitigate passenger inconvenience during weather-related delays, several passenger-centric faci- litation measures have been ensured, including additional seating arrangements, adequate availability of food and beverages, essential medicines, sanitary items, and timely dissemination of flight-related information, he said.
Coordination meetings were also held with taxi operators and nearby hotels to ensure preparedness and quality passenger services during contingencies.
A dedicated inter-departmental communication group has been constituted to enable real-time coordination and swift decision-making.
Further, a dedicated Operations Control Room has been established at AAI, Imphal, to provide immediate assistance and coordination, and can be contacted at 9402880368.
Emphasizing operational continuity, the Airport Director stated that a comprehensive mock exercise on fog preparedness involving all departments, agencies, and stakeholders has been successfully conducted.
He reiterated that flight cancellations and diversions should be avoided to the maximum extent possible, assuring that all necessary operational and logistical support would be extended whenever required.
It was also decided that scheduled flights would be accorded priority over diverted flights, in the interest of passenger convenience and operational discipline.
The meeting concluded with a collective reaffirmation of commitment by all stakeholders to ensure safe, efficient, and passenger-friendly operations at Imphal Airport throughout the winter fog season.
It is reported that Imphal Airport is equipped with a Category-I Instrument Landing System (ILS) and comprehensive Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) infrastructure, including Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI), Simple Approach Lighting System (SALS), guard lights, and aeronautical ground lighting, enabling safe and efficient aircraft operations under low-visibility conditions.
The existing CAT-I ILS facilitates aircraft landing operations with minimum weather requirements of visibility/RVR of 800 metres / 550 metres, in accordance with prevailing regulatory standards.
To further enhance operational safety and situational awareness during reduced visibility, a transmissometer providing accurate, real-time Runway Visual Range (RVR) data has been commissioned and has been fully operational since July 2024. The availability of real-time RVR information significantly strengthens Air Traffic Control and flight crew decision-making during adverse weather conditions, the report added.
Additionally, the Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) for Imphal Airport have been recently approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it added.