Bird presence, unchecked construction raise safety concerns at Ranchi airport
After the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, the spotlight has once again turned to aviation safety across the country. In this context, questions are being raised about how safe Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport is for flight operations, especially following a bird-hit incident on June 2 involving an IndiGo aircraft.The airport, located in a densely populated area, continues to face serious challenges in maintaining safe airspace. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has repeatedly flagged this issue with the state government.advertisementIn 2023, the AAI wrote to the Chief Minister, Urban Development Department and Ranchi Municipal Corporation, raising concerns about 55 construction within a 20-km radius of the airport that it deemed unsafe for aircraft operations.
This is not the first time such concerns have been raised. As early as 2008, notices were issued under the Aircraft Act of 1934 to over 40 buildings, restricting construction heights to 35 feet around the airport.Captain Shilpriya Verma, former Chief Pilot of the Jharkhand Police and a veteran in state aviation with over 15 years of service, explained to Aaj Tak that the runway's centreline - where take-offs occur - must remain clear within a 15-degree arc on both sides. He added that within a 3-km radius of any airport, there should be no meat, fish markets, or abattoirs, as these attract birds.advertisementIn Ranchi, however, the hygienic fish market and waste dumped behind the airport boundary pose a persistent risk. Aircraft taking off at speeds over 300 km/h have experienced multiple bird-hit incidents here in the past.During a recent ground report by Aaj Tak, camera footage showed waste littered near the airport boundary and birds flying around dangerously close to the runway - clear signs of a safety hazard.The latest incident occurred on June 2, when an IndiGo Airbus A320, flying from Patna to Ranchi with 175 passengers, suffered a bird hit at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, around 10 to 20 nautical miles from landing. The aircraft's nose was dented, prompting an emergency landing. Fortunately, all passengers escaped unharmed.Earlier in 2020, an Air Asia aircraft had to abort take-off following a bird strike. Just two days before the June 2 incident, another bird was spotted in flight path range as an IndiGo aircraft prepared for departure.Captain Verma stressed that all stakeholders - including the municipal corporation and RRDA - must recognise their responsibilities. He also called for a public awareness campaign to educate residents near the airport about the dangers of open waste dumping. Strict adherence to standard operating procedures is essential to ensure safe operations at Ranchi airport.
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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Patna airport faces safety risks amid urban sprawl & natural obstacles
1 2 Patna: The tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad has rekindled long-standing fears over the precarious nature of operations at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport, a facility so tightly hemmed in by urban sprawl and natural constraints that even seasoned pilots concede it offers almost no margin for error. Tucked between the lush, wildlife-rich Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (better known as Patna zoo) to the east and the railway corridor of Phulwarisharif to the west, the airport is, by all accounts, flying on the edge. Its geographical squeeze is more than a cartographic inconvenience – it is a hazard. Short runways, tall trees, electric cables, a looming British-era clock tower and erratic light sources such as DJ laser beams during weddings all conspire to make every landing and take-off a potential challenge. "The airport is surrounded by thick settlement, making it one of the most challenging for take-offs and landings," an aviation official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The short runway only adds to the difficulty," he added. Despite being operationally critical for Bihar, the airport continues to run on borrowed time. Runway expansion has long been discussed, but actual action remains elusive. In the wake of the June 12 AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which sent shockwaves across the country, officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the district administration inspected Patna airport to examine possibilities for runway extension. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo A proposal has been drawn up yet again, but those on the ground remain sceptical. "We have heard promises before," said an airport official. "But the challenges we face demand more than paperwork and inspections," he added. Standing at 49.5 metres tall, the iconic clock tower near the Old Secretariat, built in 1917, poses a major hurdle for approaching aircraft. "It eats into our usable runway length," said Krishna Mohan Nehra, Patna's airport director. While the runway officially stretches 2,072 metres, pilots are forced to work with only 1,938 metres from the east and just 1,677 metres from the west due to the tower's presence. Nehra said the tower disrupts the standard three-degree landing approach, forcing aircraft to descend at steeper angles of up to 3.5 degrees which is risky, especially in poor weather. The Airport Environment Management Committee (AEMC), chaired by divisional commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh, has recommended reducing the tower's height by 17.5 metres. The proposal now awaits cabinet secretariat approval. "Pilots often have to go around again due to incorrect approach angles caused by the tower," an official added. Patna's airstrip is nearly 750 feet shorter than the 2,300 metres recommended by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for safe operation of commercial jets like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. In fact, Patna was one of four airports flagged in 2010 by the Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) for critical safety limitations. The latest expansion proposal includes acquiring 37 acres to the east – 15 acres of which belong to the Patna zoo – and 200 metres of land towards the west, near the railway line in Phulwarisharif. District officials are eyeing sites near the Patna Golf Club to compensate the zoo for any lost land. Rajender Singh Lahauria, former airport director, supports the relocation of the zoo altogether. "The zoo director back then felt the airport operations were affecting animal breeding. Shifting the zoo and govt bungalows would make runway extension viable," he said. However, Lahauria cautioned that western expansion won't benefit landing distances due to the railway traction lines but could help with take-offs. "The real game-changer would be reducing the clock tower's height, but historically the AAI hasn't received a positive response from the state," he added. Lahauria said in 2016, a proposal was sent at his time to reduce the clock tower height by 11.5-m and land acquisition for runway extension, but nothing was done. Arvind Kumar Singh, secretary of Patna Golf Club, said they have a lease of 102.8acres of land out of which 20acres is "encroached" by zoo. "The club does not in any way interfere with flight safety funnel. Golf Club has been declared as a green belt with multiple heritage trees of over 70/80 years old. The Golf Club has given national level golfers creating a good image of emerging Bihar. We have plans to further upgrade the facility but if they take another 15-acre land, then how can we do it?" he asked. According to AAI officials, even the western extension is fraught with problems. "We can only extend by 120 metres towards Phulwarisharif. But even that will be largely unusable. There must be at least 150 metres between the runway's centreline and the railway track. Currently, we only have 70 metres and an extension would reduce it to just 39," one official said. High-tension wires along the railway line further complicate the possibility of creating a slope. Efforts to move the railway line underground were ruled out after a RITES feasibility study. "There is simply no scope westward," the official said. The eastern approach is equally complex. "When pilots land from the east, the first thing they see are tree canopies, not the runway," another official said. "Beyond the zoo, new multi-storey buildings could emerge as future obstructions. We have only surveyed within our jurisdiction, but even now, we can't use the full 2,072 metres," he added. Tree growth at the zoo poses a persistent safety threat. Regular pruning, officials say, is either delayed or ignored. At a recent AEMC meeting, the airport director stressed the urgency of compliance with the Obstacle Limitation Survey under the Aircraft Act, 1934. The forest department has been instructed to take immediate action. "Tree growth is natural, and so should be its management," said Arvind Dubey, former director of the airport. "We need the state's cooperation to ensure aircraft safety. Passenger facilities have improved, but operational safety must follow," he added. Another growing concern is the menace of laser lights from wedding venues. On April 17 this year, an IndiGo flight (6E-653) from Pune was temporarily blinded by a DJ laser beam during its approach to Patna. While the pilot managed a safe landing, the potential consequences could have been catastrophic. Following the incident, authorities banned laser lights in the airport vicinity, requiring prior police clearance for DJs and sound systems at public events. Yet enforcement remains patchy. "Laser distractions during peak wedding season can be fatal," airport officials said. Though bird-hit incidents have decreased due to tighter controls on open meat and fish shops in Phulwarisharif, danger still looms large, thanks to the nearby garbage transfer station at Gardanibagh. Only 800 metres from the airport, the site attracts birds and poses a serious threat. Divisional commissioner Singh said that a new dumping site is being constructed at Yarpur and is expected to be operational by Aug 15. "Proper waste disposal near the airport is crucial for safety," he said. This year, Patna airport has already reported seven bird-hit incidents, three of which occurred in May alone. The Ahmedabad crash also revived haunting memories of Patna's own aviation tragedy. On July 17, 2000, Alliance Air flight 7412 ploughed through a residential colony in Gardanibagh, killing over 60 people. Naveen Singh, a local, still remembers it vividly. "I was at the airport when it happened. I rushed to the site. It's an image I can't erase," he said. Akhilesh Choudhary, a 62-year-old resident of Gardanibagh, said, "The sound of aircraft engines still fills us with dread. After Ahmedabad, those old fears have returned. The authorities must take action for us and for the pilots." Ultimately, many aviation experts believe that only a greenfield airport can address Patna's aviation challenges comprehensively. "We are working within impossible constraints," said an AAI official. "The land is limited, the obstructions are permanent and the risks are real," he added.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
IndiGo's Guwahati-Chennai flight makes emergency landing at Bengaluru airport after pilot's ‘Mayday' call: Report
An IndiGo flight from Guwahati to Chennai with 168 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after the captain gave a 'Mayday' call -- a distress call via radio communication - citing insufficient fuel in the plane. The incident comes on the heels of an Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of 241 passengers, leaving one survivor. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had issued a Mayday call shortly before it crashed. The pilot of IndiGo flight 6E-6764 (A321), which departed from Guwahati at 4:40 PM, attempted to land in Chennai at around 7:45 PM. However, after the aircraft's landing gear touched the runway, the pilot opted for a 'go around' in what is known as a 'balked landing'. 'About 35 miles from Bengaluru airport, the captain made a 'Mayday' call,' TOI reported citing sources. Describing the situation, a passenger said, 'The sudden and steep climb had many passengers on the edge of their seats, some visibly frightened.' The individual chose to remain unnamed. Multiple sources at the airport and Air Traffic Control (ATC) confirmed to TOI that the pilot did not attempt a second landing in Chennai. Instead, he chose to divert the flight to Bengaluru. Sources at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) told TOI:, 'After getting the distress call, the ATC alerted the on-ground staff members who swung into action. Medical and fire services personnel were in place. The aircraft landed safely at 8.20pm.' Both the pilots involved have been taken off duty, although IndiGo has not confirmed this. The IndiGo plane, which was critically low on fuel, made a safe landing in Bengaluru.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Another 'Mayday' episode causes more jitters in Indian aviation
A Guwahati-to-Chennai IndiGo flight carrying 168 passengers had to make an emergency landing at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru on Thursday night, news agencies reported on June 21 citing sources. The forced landing came after the captain issued a 'Mayday' distress signal, citing critically low fuel levels, the sources reportedly informed. The details of the incident remain unclear as the airline has reportedly not given any confirmation on the same yet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo According to a Times of India report, IndiGo's flight 6E-6764, operated by an Airbus A321 that departed Guwahati at 4:40 p.m., tried to land in Chennai at approximately 7:45 p.m. However, after the aircraft's landing gear made contact with the runway, the pilot initiated a maneuver known as a 'balked landing' or go-around. A source with direct knowledge of the situation told ToI that the Mayday call was transmitted when the aircraft was roughly 35 nautical miles away from Bengaluru. Live Events According to the source, the approach to Chennai seemed improperly stabilised. The sharp and abrupt ascent after the aborted landing startled many on board; several passengers appeared fearful, one traveler who preferred to remain unnamed told the newspaper. Staff at airport operations and air traffic control (ATC) verified that no further attempt was made to land in Chennai. Instead, the pilot diverted the aircraft toward Bengaluru. KIA officials stated that the distress signal prompted immediate action by the ATC, who coordinated with ground services. Firefighters and medical teams were readied in anticipation of the aircraft's arrival. The plane touched down safely at Bengaluru at 8:20 p.m. One insider mentioned that both pilots were subsequently removed from active duty, though IndiGo declined to officially comment on the matter. The airline attributed the diversion to air traffic congestion at Chennai Airport — a reason that ATC officials in Chennai reportedly rubbished. Sources suggested the aircraft may not have been carrying the required minimum amount of diversion fuel after the go-around, ToI's report said. IndiGo neither confirmed nor denied that a Mayday transmission had been made by the flight crew. Once on the ground in Bengaluru, the passengers were informed that the plane would proceed to Chennai post-refueling. A fresh crew was assigned to operate the subsequent leg, which arrived in Chennai at 11:25 p.m. Air operations in India are currently in the eye of a storm following the deadly Ahmedabad Air India crash , with all kinds of aviation-related matters being followed closely.
