Photo: Collected
The upgraded Instrument Landing System (ILS) has finally been installed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This enhancement allows flights to land safely at Shahjalal despite adverse weather conditions. Previously, dense fog or light storms often made landings risky, forcing flights bound for Dhaka to divert to Chattogram or Kolkata, resulting in hours of delays as passengers waited for improved weather in Dhaka.
With the new ILS, flights can now land in hostile weather without risk, and the airport is expected to soon achieve category 2 status. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Executive Director Group Captain Kamrul Islam confirmed this development, stating, "Most recently we have installed ILS at Shahjalal Airport. We hope that our airport will be upgraded to category 2 soon."
Aviation expert Khairul Alam Bhuiyan commented on the recent upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, noting that the new system will significantly reduce the risks associated with flight landings in adverse weather conditions. He highlighted that the third terminal will become fully operational in the next few months, which will lead to a substantial increase in the number of flights. Previously, fog or storms posed severe risks to landings, but with the upgraded ILS, such dangers have been mitigated.
Bhuiyan emphasised that the early launch of the upgraded ILS is welcome news for airlines, as it enhances Shahjalal's capabilities and international acceptance. He stated, "Shahjalal's ability will increase, and its acceptance will also rise in the international arena. There is no doubt that Shahjalal will become a regional hub if facilities comparable to other global airports are added."
He also mentioned that an increase in air traffic at the airport will lead to higher revenues. Therefore, all feasible opportunities to enhance the airport's capabilities should be pursued.
Airport officials have noted that dense fog often disrupts aircraft movement at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, leading to flight schedule disruptions and passenger inconvenience, as well as financial losses for airlines. To address these issues, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) took the initiative to upgrade the airport's Instrument Landing System (ILS).
According to sources, pilots traditionally ensured safe landings by visually confirming the runway. However, the ILS is implemented at airports worldwide to enable pilots to land flights even in low visibility conditions. When the runway is not clearly visible, the ILS uses radio waves to help the pilot identify the runway location, thereby facilitating safer and more reliable landings.
According to sources, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) currently installed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a Category-1 system. However, in the event of a power outage, it takes 8 seconds for the generator to start and activate the Category-1 ILS. This delay means that pilots cannot fully rely on this system during landings in low visibility conditions, as a fast-moving aircraft could face the risk of an accident without the ILS operational for those crucial 8 seconds. However, with the recent upgrade, pilots no longer need to face this challenge.
It has been noted that both domestic and international flights are frequently suspended due to fog during the winter season, leading to disruptions in flight schedules throughout the day. Visibility is significantly reduced from November to February because of dense fog, making it difficult for aircraft to land. Additionally, heavy rains and clouds during the monsoon season also disrupt flights.
The upgraded ILS at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport now provides a more reliable and efficient landing system, allowing flights to land safely even in adverse weather conditions, thus mitigating the impact of fog, rain, and low visibility on flight operations.
According to sources, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) currently installed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a Category-1 system. However, in the event of a power outage, it takes 8 seconds for the generator to start and activate the Category-1 ILS. This delay means that pilots cannot fully rely on this system during landings in low visibility conditions, as a fast-moving aircraft could face the risk of an accident without the ILS operational for those crucial 8 seconds. However, with the recent upgrade, pilots no longer need to face this challenge.
According to sources, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) currently installed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is a Category-1 system. However, in the event of a power outage, it takes 8 seconds for the generator to start and activate the Category-1 ILS. This delay means that pilots cannot fully rely on this system during landings in low visibility conditions, as a fast-moving aircraft could face the risk of an accident without the ILS operational for those crucial 8 seconds. However, with the recent upgrade, pilots no longer need to face this challenge.
It has been noted that both domestic and international flights are frequently suspended due to fog during the winter season, leading to disruptions in flight schedules throughout the day. Visibility is significantly reduced from November to February because of dense fog, making it difficult for aircraft to land. Additionally, heavy rains and clouds during the monsoon season also disrupt flights.
The upgraded ILS at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport now provides a more reliable and efficient landing system, allowing flights to land safely even in adverse weather conditions. This improvement significantly mitigates the impact of fog, rain, and low visibility on flight operations, ensuring smoother and safer landings throughout the year.
Group Captain Kamrul Islam also mentioned that the ILS upgradation programme was undertaken in the middle of last year. Simultaneously, the airport's lighting system has been upgraded. "Currently, our Instrument Landing System (ILS) is being upgraded from Category-1 to Category-2," he said. "Previously, if visibility decreased below 500 meters, aircraft could not land. With the upgrade, aircraft will be able to land on the runway even in visibility of less than 500 meters."
This enhancement will significantly improve the operational efficiency and safety of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The upgraded ILS will ensure that flight schedules are less likely to be disrupted by poor visibility, benefiting both airlines and passengers.
Messenger/Fameema
