Airport Gets Ready For Jumbo Planes
Jumbo planes like Boeing 747-800 and Airbus 380 will be able to land in Chennai International Airport in the near future as Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun work on upgrading the existing taxiways and parking bays at the airport. There are also plans to build new taxiways as per the specifications of these aircraft.
British Airways has informed AAI that they would like to start a freighter service from Chennai using a B747-800F in the winter schedule. A survey was conducted recently by representatives from AAI, airlines and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to assess existing facilities and identify areas where improvements are needed to equip the airport handle big aircraft.
B747-800 is the largest aircraft in the 747 series and the longest in the world, with a length of 76.25 metres. The freighter plane had its first flight in 2010 while the passenger aircraft was flown for the first time in March this year. The aircraft is widely used as freighters while the passenger plane is used for inter-continental flights.
The Chennai airport does not have rapid exit taxiways that help pilots to vacate a runway without slowing down the aircraft soon after landing. Planes such as A380 and B747-800 will have to slow down completely to negotiate sharp turns on the taxiway. "Existing taxiways and parking bays, though adequate to accommodate B747-800 F, may need a few minor changes. Airlines will be allowed to operate the aircraft as soon as we complete the works. We are carrying out infrastructure works keeping in mind the requirements of these planes," airport director E P Hareendranathan said. The works include straightening and widening taxiways.
However, the airport is not fully ready to handle A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft with a wingspan of 79.8 metres and length of 72-75 metres, because taxiways and parking bays are not wide enough to accommodate the plane. "We have not received requests from airlines to operate A380 in Chennai. Still, we have constructed parking bays and plan to make changes to some of the taxiways to accommodate A380," Hareendranathan said.
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