If applicable steps aren’t taken, accident just like Friday’s airplane crash in Kozhikode might happen subsequent at Patna, Jammu airports, air security professional Captain Mohan Ranganathan mentioned in a dialog with Hindustan Occasions. In the course of the interview, Ranganathan, who’s a member of a security advisory committee constituted by the civil aviation ministry, mentioned he had submitted a report round 9 years in the past, warning that the Calicut (now Kozhikode) airport was not secure for landings.
“The warnings had been ignored… in my view, it’s not an accident however a homicide. Their very own audits have had flagged issues of safety” Ranganathan mentioned, including that the crash might have been effectively prevented.
Ranganathan defined how table-top runways, the one within the case of the Kozhikode airport, have little or no area and subsequently require extra security options.
“There’s a drop of round 70 metres on the finish of the runway on the Kozhikode airport, within the case of Mangalore it’s a couple of 100 metres. There’s no escape for an plane if it overruns,” he defined.
Additionally learn: Kerala airplane crash – Flight knowledge recorder, cockpit voice recorder recovered
Virtually a decade in the past, in a letter addressed to the chairman of Civil Aviation Security Advisory Council (CASAC) and civil aviation secretary, Ranganathan had pointed that the Runway 10 of the Kozhikode airport may very well be dangerous for touchdown in tailwind circumstances in rain.
“I perceive that Runway 10 ILS is getting used on a trial foundation at Calicut. A few of the crew are accepting even VOR method on Runway 10. The reason being the decrease minima than Runway 28. Nevertheless, all of the flights that land on Runway 10 in tailwind circumstances in rain, are endangering the lives of all on board,” he had mentioned.
He additionally mentioned that the airport doesn’t have the minimal Runway Finish Security Space (RESA).
Additionally learn: Kozhikode’s table-top runway dangerous for touchdown, officers warned 10 years in the past
“The runway strip is simply half the minimal width laid down in ICAO Annex 14. This reality was recognized to the DGCA crew that has been conducting inspections and security assessments through the previous a number of years. Have they thought of the hazard concerned? Has the DGCA or the airways laid down any operational restrictions or particular procedures?” he had written.
No less than 18 folks, together with the pilot and the co-pilot, have been killed as Air India Categorical flight IX 1344 overshot the runway at Kerala’s Kozhikode airport and fell right into a valley, breaking into two on Friday night. The flight was bringing Indians stranded in Dubai amid Covid-19 pandemic below the federal government’s Vande Bharat Mission.