Date:29/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/29/stories/2007112959370100.htm

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Airport to miss many flight hours in fog

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Even as Delhi International Airport (Private) Limited gets ready to battle the winter fog in the days and weeks ahead, the Meteorological Department has said the “most vulnerable” period would be from December 10 to January 31.

“This period will be the most vulnerable as runway visibility will be below 200 metres. As per the fog data during 2006-07, there were seven spells that hampered flight operations at Delhi airport severely,” said IGI Airport Met Office director R. K. Jenamani at a press conference here on Wednesday.

The weather office had informed the Centre recently that there would be over 150 hours between December and mid-February when visibility would be less than 50 metres due to fog and no flight operations would be possible.

Dr. Jenamani said the weather office would provide six-hourly forecasts to the airport during the fog season. Information on runway visibility of the last 24 hours would be available on its website. Sharing DIAL’s plans to provide additional facilities to passengers this winter, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Harrison said: “To provide additional seating area for passengers, Terminal 1B (domestic departure) is being extended on the kerbside. Compared with last year where additional seating was across the road, this extension will be attached to the terminal building for the convenience of passengers.”

An extensive flight information display system will be provided in the extension area -- that will be completed in a week’s time -- to regularly update passengers.

“In the extension area as well as inside the terminals, additional arrangements have been made to provide refreshments, food and beverages to passengers,” he said.