The required visibility for flight operations on the short runway is 2,400 metres for ATRs and Airbus 319 and 320, and 2,800 metres for Boeing 737, and Airbus 319, 320 and 321.
Short runway operations at the airport were affected on Tuesday because of smog, drastically bringing down flight movement to 19 — six arrivals and 13 departures — from 58 between 1pm to 6pm.
“The operations started at 1.02pm but were suspended at 2.07pm as visibility dropped to 1,800 metres,” said a spokesperson for Mumbai International Airport Limited (Mial).
The required visibility for flight operations on the short runway is 2,400 metres for aircraft types A and B (ATRs, and Airbus 319 and 320), and 2,800 metres for aircraft type C (Boeing 737, and Airbus 319, 320 and 321).
“Smoke from slums and industrial units in the airport’s surroundings, and construction work in and around the airport lead to smog,” said an air traffic control (ATC) official. “In the absence of wind, dust particles remain suspended in air, affecting visibility.”
The situation on Tuesday led to 14 flight diversions — 7 Jet Airways, 5 Kingfisher and 2 JetLite flights were diverted to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore and Aurangabad.
“Short runway operations resumed at 4.36pm and closed at 5.10pm. Full runway operations started at 6.01pm,” the MIAL spokesperson said.
What is short runway operation?
From October 27, the intersection point of two cross runways at the airport remains closed from noon to 6pm every Tuesday for repair work, which will last three months.
The secondary runway is closed for reconstruction.
During this period, a 1,703-metre patch of the 3,500-metre main runway is made available for small aircraft like ATRs, and Airbus 319 and 320.
Terrible Tuesdays
Since the start of the short runway operations, near accidents have become commonplace on Tuesdays. On November 3, a GoAir flight was just 50 feet from the construction site — where 600 workers were at their job — before going for a go-around.
On November 10, a Kingfisher ATR skidded off the runway while taxiing, getting stuck in a grassy patch. Just four minutes earlier, an Air India flight bounced twice before landing on the edge of the runway.
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