Bhopal airport to have night landing facility soon

Bhopal | From April 1, 24-hour flight operation facility can start from Bhopal's Raja Bhoj Airport. The airport authority has got permission from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). As soon as instructions are received from the authority's headquarters, Bhopal airport will be included in the selected airports of the country, which are open 24 hours.

The authority has also completed the necessary condition for this by testing the runway edge lighting.

For the last three years, there was a plan to keep the airport open 24 hours. Recently BCAS has given its in-principle consent. The bureau has agreed to increase the strength of the security forces from 169 to 220. There is also a proposal to increase the fire brigade.

As of now the airport remains open from 6 am to 10 pm. However, the air traffic control room opens continuously. With the commencement of 24-hour flight operation facility, late night flights are likely to start. Several companies including Air India operate Red Eye flights late at night. Landing costs for companies are reduced by operating rather than parking aircraft at night. Passengers get the benefit of this in the form of low fares.

The authority has successfully tested runway edge lighting for 24-hour flight operations. Although the lighting is already installed, it is of little use, as there is currently no flight after 10 pm in Bhopal. This lighting helps in landing in the dark or when there is low visibility. As soon as the pilot approaches the runway, all ends are visible, this can lead to a safe landing. It is also called photo chromatic lighting test in technical language.

Devotees light lamps to welcome Hindu New Year, Chaitra Navvarsh Pratipada, in Bhopal on Wednesday.