The Instrument Landing System (ILS) has been put into operation at the Veer Savarkar International (VSI) Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. VSI Airport Director, Devender Yadav, informed that the ILS CAT 1 facility facilitates seamless aircraft operations under various challenging conditions. On April 18, a private airline became the first to utilize the ILS, landing at VSI Airport at 6:29 am.
What is the Instrument Landing System?
This precision radio navigation system offers short-range guidance to aircraft, enabling them to approach a runway safely, particularly during night-time, adverse weather conditions, and low visibility.
What are the benefits of the ILS?
Yadav highlighted the benefits of the ILS, stating that it could reduce flight diversions caused by bad weather and poor visibility, thus enhancing traveler convenience and potentially lowering airfare. The implementation of ILS is expected to extend the window for aircraft operations.
Despite numerous challenges such as land availability, logistics, the pandemic, and regulatory compliance, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has successfully completed the ILS project after years of dedicated effort. Yadav expressed satisfaction with overcoming these hurdles and achieving the operationalization of ILS at Port Blair airport.
(With PTI Inputs)