Experts Question Increase In Runway Length At Mangalore Airport
News AWIN First Jun 01 , 2010 Neelam Mathews mathews.neelam@gmail.com NEW DELHI As India’s Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel announced the runway at Mangalore Airport would be increased from 8,038 to 9,000 ft. to include a large spillover area, experts were already questioning this solution to increase the safety of the tabletop airport. The airport was the scene of an Air India Express crash on May 22, when a Boeing 737-800 overshot the runway on landing, falling into a ravine, killing 158 onboard. The gorge must be filled on either side with mud and stones, a risky proposition given the nature of soil in the region that is prone to heavy monsoon rains. This could compromise the structural integrity, an airport official said. “If you have tons of money, you can do it. From the pilot’s point of view, it would be better to have a longer runway,” says a safety expert. New information has been released by think tank Environment Support Group (ESG), which has been fight...