To facilitate the expansion of the Runway End Safety Area (RESA), the runway at Calicut airport has been partially closed, effective from Monday, for six months in two phases.
Accordingly, it will remain closed from 12 noon to 2.30 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m to 7 p.m. till March 24, and in the second phase, from noon to 8 p.m. from March 25 to June 30.
The RESA work, however, will not disturb the existing flight operations, except three schedules including two that are being operated in the domestic sector.
“The rescheduled international flight will be operated in the Sharjah sector. Normally, all flights commence operations after 7.45 p.m.,” airport director J.T. Radhakrishna said.
RESA is being expanded to 240 metres on the instructions of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). At present, it is just 90 metres at both ends, which goes against the civil aviation requirements.
Following the work, the length of the table-top runway, however, will be reduced from 2,850 metres to 2,700 metres.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had already sanctioned ₹6 crore for the work which involves major electrical installations and laying of cables. The contract was awarded to six firms, Mr. Radhakrishna added.
According to him, wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing 777-200 can be operated from the airport with the expansion of RESA.
Emirates, Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines), and Air India, which operate to Middle East destinations, however, are keen on operating wide-bodied aircraft such as Airbus 330-300, Boeing 777-200 Longer Range, and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
