The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be refurbishing the runway at the city airport. “We have decided to carry out milling (rubber removal) for a minimum of six hours every day for 10 days from this weekend,” said a senior AAI official after a meeting with airline representatives here on Monday.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) clearance to close part of the runway is expected in a day or two. We have also taken the airline authorities into confidence for operating the remaining part of the runway during the repair works,” the official added.
The need for milling work was necessitated after a DGCA report cited lesser friction levels at both ends of the runway; friction is important as aircraft tyres need better grip for smooth landings.
“We have to remove rubber and strengthen the runway at both ends and also in a few areas in the centre. We will not close the runway completely; three-fourths of the length will be available for aircraft operations,” the official said, adding that as it would be difficult for bigger aircraft to land while the repairs were going on, workers might vacate the runway for a few minutes when a plane required the full length of the runway.
Rubber removal work was also being done in a small scale over the last few weeks without disturbing aircraft movement.