Kolkata Airport News: Kalyani Airport Raises Flight Path Safety Concerns
Kolkata Airport News
The proposed Kalyani airport in West Bengal is facing concerns over its planned flight paths and possible impact on operations at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. An experienced retired pilot has raised questions about whether both airports can operate safely at the same time.
Kalyani airport and Kolkata airport are around 35 km apart. According to retired senior flight captain Sumanta Roy Chowdhury, the proposed Kalyani airport falls along the extended centre line of Kolkata airport’s primary runway. He has raised the issue with the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The main concern is that aircraft using the two airports could come too close to each other during take-off and landing. The former pilot said simultaneous operations could create challenges for both pilots and air traffic controllers.
According to the concerns raised, an aircraft taking off from Kalyani could come within around 1,000 feet of an aircraft descending towards Kolkata airport. Such close movements could also trigger collision-avoidance warnings in aircraft.
The difference between the aircraft movements at the two airports is another factor highlighted in the concerns. Flights approaching Kolkata airport reportedly descend at around 1,500 to 2,000 feet per minute when they are over the Kalyani area. In comparison, an aircraft taking off from Kalyani could climb at around 1,000 feet per minute.
These flight paths could create difficulties if both airports operate at the same time. Pilots and air traffic controllers would need to carefully manage aircraft movements to maintain safe separation between flights.
The concerns have been raised with aviation authorities so that the proposed flight paths and operational plans can be examined. The issue is important because flight safety depends on proper separation between aircraft, especially in areas where airports are located relatively close to each other.
The Kalyani airport proposal is still facing questions over how its operations would fit into the existing airspace around Kolkata. Further assessment by the aviation authorities will be important before simultaneous airport operations are considered.
The final operational plan will need to take into account runway alignment, aircraft climb and descent paths, air traffic control requirements and the safe separation of flights.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
