Renewed push for runway safety at Mangaluru airport

DELAYED TAKEOFF: Mangaluru airport awaits land acquisition to create a second ‘runway safety basic strip’

At Mangaluru airport, efforts to improve operational safety have received a fillip with a renewed push for creating an additional ‘runway safety basic strip’.

A ‘runway safety basic strip’ is an area adjacent to the length of the runway that is designed to increase the safety of aircraft during take-offs, landings and runway excursions.

It extends for a prescribed distance on either side of the runway’s centreline. Mangaluru airport has a 140-m runway safety basic strip on one side of the runway; it requires 32.97 acres to meet the requirement on the opposite side.

This strip is different from the ‘runway end safety area’ (RESA) — on either ends of the runway — which meets the regulatory requirement at Mangaluru airport.

It is to be noted that Mangaluru airport has been leased to Mangaluru International Airport Ltd (MIAL) of Adani Group, under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Adani Group took charge of Mangaluru airport on October 30, 2020.

MIAL had estimated the additional land requirement for the second runway safety basic strip.

A step forward

Recent developments indicate there has been some progress on the matter.

In a reply to the Lok Sabha on February 6, the civil aviation ministry stated that it had requested the Karnataka government to hand over the land to AAI for free.

“However, GoK (government of Karnataka) had not agreed to the same as Mangalore airport is being operated under PPP.

“Subsequently, AAI has been directed by MoCA to address the matter in accordance with Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India guidelines to ensure that operational safety and efficiency of the airport is maintained while mitigating any potential adverse impact on user tariffs,” the ministry said.

Participating in a Lok Sabha debate recently, Capt Brijesh Chowta, member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, highlighted the obstacles the airport is facing with regard to land acquisition for safety enhancement and expansion needs.

He said Mangaluru airport, under a private operator, has sought additional land from the district administration to provide the safety area for the runway. The district administration has asked the Karnataka government, which has written to AAI and is now willing to facilitate the land acquisition process.

In an interaction with mediapersons on April 10, Capt Chowta said he had met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently, and the order for land acquisition will be released soon.

Passenger comfort

Anand Pai, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told businessline that the land acquisition is meant to improve the safety of people flying in and out of Mangaluru.

Strengthening of the runway safety basic strip with the mandated space will bolster the confidence of flyers.

For pilots, the strengthening of such safety infrastructure will prove a blessing in aiding precise landings during heavy rainfall or fog, thereby averting flight delays or cancellations, he added.

More Like This

Published on April 20, 2025