INDORE: The new instrument landing system (ILS) installed at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport to assist planes with precision landing has finally got clearance for commissioning. With this, planes can now land at the airport during low visibility.
“Now the Air Traffic Control won’t have to divert flights here to other airports during inclement weather. ILS Runway 25 at the airport has been commissioned and will start guiding planes with precision landing,” Airport director Manoj Chansoria told The Times of India.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had been in the process of completing upgrading the old ILS system at the airport for the past one month. The calibration of the ILS system was expedited after flights were frequently being diverted whenever visibility was low. Till now, planes landing at the airport were only using non-precision methods that offer pilots only lateral guidance.
“The ILS has been commissioned now that all loopholes have been plugged and clearance has been given from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” said officials.
ILS is an important instrument as its key features determine if the aircraft is aligned and maintaining a proper slope. The airport had an old system, which was installed in 1994. It has now been replaced with an advanced one for aircraft to land safely. The new system has been installed at an approximate cost of Rs.1.34 crore.
