Tabletop Airports In India – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

What is a tabletop runway?

• Generally, tabletop runways are constructed on a hilly or an elevated terrain and are built in a way that there is a trench or valley at the front and back of the length of the runway.

• Therefore, an accurate landing is very important.
• The tabletops are very tricky and known to be extremely challenging even for the best of pilots.
• These table top runways also have a problem of access roads around the airfield, which may need to be used in case of aircraft accidents.
• The narrow and winding roads can delay and hinder the rescue operations.
• There are a total of five tabletop runways in India.

1. Mangalore in Karnataka,
2. Kozhikode in Kerala,
3. Lengpui in Mizoram,
4. Shimla in Himachal Pradesh and
5. Pakyong in Sikkim.

• The tragic accident in Kerala last evening when a plane attempting to land amid heavy tailwinds and rain on the table-top runway at the Kozhikode airport has once again shone light on the safety concerns over flight operations at such runways in the country.
• The safety concerns were first raised following the 2010 Air India Express crash in Mangalore that killed 160 people on board.
• The 2010 report had cautioned of operations at such ‘critical airfields’.
• The DGCA has classified certain airfields as critical which need special qualification for the flight crew to undertake operations.
• The criteria for classifying airfields as critical are based on various factors such as terrain, length of runway, predominance of inclement weather
• There are 11 such airfields, which include the table-top runways of Mangalore, Kozhikode and Lengpui.
• In addition, airfields such as Patna, Jammu, Leh, Port Blair, etc also qualify as ‘critical airfields’.

An independent safety board

• Following the Mangalore crash, the court of Inquiry recommended setting up of an independent Indian Civil Aviation Safety Board (ICASB) urgently in view of rapid growth of aviation in the country.
• Such independent safety organisations have been set up in the USA, UK, Canada, France and Indonesia to name a few.
• The ICASB will focus on all flight safety related issues to suggest proactive measures, to minimise accidents and incidents, it had said.
• Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) had also warned the authorities 10 years back that Kozhikode runway was very risky for landing during rains and harsh weather conditions.
• CASAC member Captain Mohan Ranganathan had pointed that the Runway 10 of the Kozhikode airport could be risky for landing in tailwind conditions in rain.
• He also said that the airport does not have the minimum Runway End Safety Areage

Conclusion

• The Air India Express accident in Mangalore should have alerted the Airport Authority to make the runway conditions safe.

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