Preventing Flight Delays Due To Fog: Bengaluru Airport Signs MoU With JNCASR For Detailed Weather Study

The Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has reached out to the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) scientists after over 600 flights were disrupted at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) due to dense fog in December 2018 and January 2019, the Hindu reports.

The duo signed a MoU on Sunday (3 February) in the presence of Bharat Ratna awardee CNR Rao. A team will be conducting a study on atmospheric conditions in the airport’s locality, which aims to bring a mechanism which will predict the fog’s onset, intensity and dissipation.

The Professor K.R. Sreenivas-led team will research for 40 months. According to the professor, the study will need two seasons to observe and provide the predictions of the onset of fog to the BIAL in the third season.

“BIAL is looking for advance notice on visibility and fog occurrence. If we can inform them four to five hours in advance, it will help in planning operations, informing airlines, ground handling and so on. For example, a Bengaluru-bound flight from Delhi could delay the departure if informed in advance about poor visibility in the city, instead of coming here and being diverted to other airports,” Prof. Sreenivas said.

He adds that the main aim of the study is to notice the impact of dust particles in cooling. The team will be installing various equipment, of which two essential devices will be measuring the dust particles in the atmosphere, and another remote device will assess the temperature and humidity profile for a one kilometre-range.

The results of the study will aid in planning and scheduling of flights MD and CEO of BIAL, Hari Marar said while adding that the second runway will be operated from October and will be CAT III B compliant, allowing flights to run in low visibility.