Facility will permit aircraft operations in zero visibilityAirport capability may be enhanced to Category-III

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, November 25

After having recently upgraded the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Chandigarh international airport to Category-II, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated the process to further enhance its capability to Category-III, which will permit aircraft operations in zero visibility.

The Category-II ILS at the airport, at present, permits operations in a visibility of 800 metres. The Category-III system will be able to guide an aircraft to within 50 metres of the touchdown point on the runway.

The ILS helps aircraft land safely in adverse weather conditions. It beams signals to an approaching aircraft that are readable by pilots, which help them align the aircraft with the runway’s centreline and also maintain the correct angle of decent.

“We have sent the proposal for upgrading the ILS to Category-III to the AAI headquarters and if things work out, the upgrade will be done in around eight months,” Suneel Dutt, Chief Executive Officer of Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) said.

“The Category-III ILS is a sensitive equipment and

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