The new runway 06/24 is adequate in length to accommodate a Boeing 737-800 comfortably. It is also equipped with all required modern facilities like ILS/DME and others.
Whether the Mangalore accident could have been avoided will be established only after the investigations are completed. However, as far as the Mangalore’s new runway is concerned it doesn't seem to be responsible for the accident as some are suggesting.
In the early years when we flew into Mangalore there was only one runway available which was 27 / 09 a length of 5000 and odd feet. Also, there was no ILS (Instrument Landing System) or VOR /DME available. Only an NDB (Non directional Beacon), which is not as accurate as the ILS and VOR/DME.
This made our approach quite difficult, especially when visibility was limiting. The pilot had to land with precision within the touch-down zone and efficiently and effectively bring the aircraft to a halt with the use of braking and reverse thrust. Then, we had little or no margin for error since the runway which is situated on a plateau of a hill is surrounded by valleys on all sides.
In the late 80s there was an incident where an Avro which had overshot the runway and was almost dangling on the edge of the cliff at the end of the runway and this had to be secured with cables to avoid it from rolling down.
But today the new runway 06/24 is adequate in length to accommodate a Boeing 737-800 comfortably. It is also equipped with all required modern facilities like ILS/DME and others.
One cannot say the runway is unsafe unless one touches down beyond the touch-down zone or well ahead of the threshold. If he does land beyond the touch-down zone, which is 1000 feet from threshold, it makes it even more difficult to stop the aircraft on the rest of runway and thereby making it possible to overshoot the runway which is then dangerous as in case of Mangalore because of the valley surrounding it. Here are possible reasons a plane can drop into the valley at the Mangalore
Weather conditions
Low visibility
The medical condition of pilots
Maintenance of FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) - sufficient rest between two flights
Condition of the aircraft & others
The writer is president of National Aviators Guild (NAG)
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