Kolkata airport to get a new landing system

Kolkata: A new and advanced Instrument Landing System (ILS) would be commissioned at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport on Tuesday.

During the installation of the new system at the northern end of the runway, aircraft would land only at the southern end. This, however, is not expected to cause any delay or disruption in flights, he observed.

The new system manufactured by US firm Thales would replace the Category-2 (CAT-2) ILS, which has been in place at the Kolkata airport since 1993. The new system, installed at a cost of Rs 88 lakh, is an advanced version of the CAT-2 and will ease maintenance and repair work in case of technical faults.

The US manufacturer will provide spare parts, amounting to over 10 per cent of instrument cost for future replacements.

ILSs help aircraft in landing in poor visibility conditions, particularly during a fog. The new system is also compatible for upgradation to CAT-3 level.

The installation work for the new system has started last week and the new system is expected to start functioning from tomorrow evening

The calibration aircraft is expected to reach the airport on Tuesday from the field station in Delhi. The specially equipped aircraft would analyse the signals received from ILS and certify the system against prescribed norms before it can start operating.

The existing system may be transported to the Srinagar airport to be installed there later.