Great news for travelers to Udaipur as Maharana Pratap Airport in Dabok is now equipped to handle flight landings even in dense fog and mist. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has upgraded the airport's runway to Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category 1. This means that flights can now land at the airport even in challenging weather conditions, avoiding the need to divert them to other airports. This improvement is a significant relief for passengers, ensuring smoother travel experiences.

Being a tourist city, a considerable number of visitors come here. In such instances, landing flights becomes challenging, especially during the winter fog. Consequently, flights were required to be diverted to airports in Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur.

Yogesh Nagayach, the Director of Dabok Airport, announced on January 8,2024 that a modern ILS system had been installed. This installation is a part of the ongoing efforts to enhance airport facilities consistently. In order to address challenges and ensure smoother operations, they incorporated Instrument Landing System (ILS) Category 1.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) shared on social media platform X that with the new system in place, flights won't be disrupted by fog anymore. It also makes it easier to avoid diverting flights to other airports during bad weather. This means planes can now land even when visibility is less than 800 meters. 

The new system has undergone thorough testing, including scrutiny with flights from the Airport Authority of India. Following assessments against various standards, it has been officially implemented. The previous system, before the upgrade, faced challenges in landing flights when visibility dropped below 800 meters, necessitating diversions to Ahmedabad, Surat, and Jaipur. 

The Category 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a sophisticated radio navigation system that aids aircraft in safely reaching the runway, particularly in low visibility conditions such as nighttime or adverse weather. It is noted that regular inspections are carried out according to specified criteria.

Udaipur Airport facilitates regular flights to 20 destinations, with around 2,200 daily arrivals and approximately 2,400 departures. Presently, as per the winter schedule at Dabok Airport, Udaipur has flight services scheduled for 10 cities. This schedule remains in effect until March 30, 2024. Udaipur offers flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar