Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122757970400.htm

New Delhi

Flights delayed due to fog

Staff Reporter

There was a lot of backlog of flights at Delhi airport

NEW DELHI: A number of flights operating from Indira Gandhi International Airport here were delayed on Friday because of low-visibility conditions in the morning due to fog.

The delays ranged from 30 minutes to over an hour.

“The safeguard procedures were initiated around 2-30 a.m. when the runway visual range was 1,700 metres on the main runway and 1,100 metres on the new runway. Low-visibility procedures were implemented at 7-30 a.m. when the RVR further fell and LVP were lifted at 9-50 a.m. Safeguard procedures were terminated at 12-10 a.m. when the RVR improved,” said an airport official later in the day.

The LVP lasted over 2 hours and 30 minutes, during which 51 flights, including arrivals and departures, operated from the airport.

However, even though the main as well as the new runway was in use, there was a lot of backlog of flights.

As aircraft from the IGI Airport took off behind schedule, they also returned to Delhi quite late.

However, no flights were diverted or cancelled due to fog.

Due to dip in visibility, safeguard procedures had to be initiated again at 2 p.m. on Friday and this continued till 6 in the evening.