Mangaluru International Airport Initiates Work on Precision Approach Lighting System

Mr Unnikrishnan Pothany, Head, Projects (left) and Mr Arul Murugan, Manager, Projects, lay the foundation stone for the precision approach lighting system project of Mangaluru International Airport at Unile village near Mangaluru on April 26.

Mangaluru International Airport, continuing its steadfast approach to ensuring safety of aircraft operations, took a major step in this direction on April 26, 2024. The airport leadership team performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the installation of Precision Approach Lighting (PAL) category 1 system near Sri Kordabbu Daivasthana, Unile. This signaled the start of the project during which multiple works pertaining to the PAL will be completed and the system commissioned.

The airport has taken up the project in line with safety recommendations from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and civil aviation safety and security regulator. The system is expected to be commissioned in 20-months’ time. The advantage of the PAL CAT 1 system is that it will offer better visibility of the runway 24 to pilots and guidance on their final landing approach. The PAL CAT 1 System will be installed 900 meters from the threshold of runway 24 as 90% of the aircraft landings at the airport happen at this end. 

The leadership team of Mangaluru International Airport participate in the foundation stone for the precision approach lighting system project of Mangaluru International Airport at Unile village near Mangaluru on April 26.

The lights will be mounted on approximately 18 lattice structures. The unique aspect of the project is that the precision approach lights, fixed to frangible T-shaped structure, will be mounted on lattice structure, examples of which are very few and rare in the global aviation sector. This project will complement the work of installation of runway Centre line lights, work on which is completed and will be commissioned on receipt of approval from the Director-General of Civil Aviation. 

 “Mangaluru International Airport with this project is committed to safety of passengers in general and aircraft operation in particular. This is also in line with our Vision 2025 to make the airport, the safest table-top airport in India,” the airport spokesperson said. The airport as part of safety augmentation process has already undertaken the work of recarpeting the runway with asphalt overlay on rigid pavement, also a new feature in the aviation infrastructure, in a record time in the year 2023.