Runway 14-32

India / Maharashtra / Sasti /
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Mumbai airport has two cross runways designated 09/27 and 14/32. Runway 14/32 (2,990 m or 9,810 ft) runs between terminals 1 and 2, while the main runway 09/27 (3,489 m or 11,447 ft) intersects it south of the terminal buildings. ILS approaches are available on the 27 (CAT II) and 09, 14 and 32 ends (CAT I). ILS at 27 end starts at 3,700 ft and is 10.5 nm long with a glide slope path of 3.3 degrees. As regards actual (truncated) use of both runways, only 11,303 ft (3,445 m) is designated usable at 09/27 and 9,596 ft at 14/32, especially for landings. Runway 14 approach requires aircraft to backtrack and exit upon landing as the turning pad at 32 end is unusable.

From January 1, 2006, both runways were operated simultaneously for three hours in the morning from 0530 to 0830. On average, about 50 flights of smaller aircraft have taken off daily from 14/32 in this time period. Since the experiment was deemed successful it has recently been decided to carry out simultaneous use in the evenings too. It is not clear if this will be for two hours or three hours. A rate of 25 departures per hour is being targeted in the evening slot. The problems with utilising 14/32 are:
(i) Mumbai's controversial new control tower erected in 1996 and some 72 m or 236 ft tall penetrates transitional obstacle limitation surfaces by over 50 m for instrument approaches, and in excess of 40 m for visuals. Approach minima at both 14 and 32 ends are higher (based on best approach aid) and are as follows: RW 14 (DA 580 ft), RW 32 (MDA 1440 ft) compared to RW 09 (DA 270 ft) or RW 27 (DA230 ft), meaning that there is a higher probability of missed approaches and diversions in inclement weather
(ii) a hillock, Trombay Hill, lies 4.5 nm away from the 32 end, an approach also questioned recently by security agencies because the BARC nuclear complex at Trombay (Anushakti Nagar) lies within its flight path.Now expansion of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been awarded to L&T ECCD.
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Coordinates:   19°5'19"N   72°52'3"E

Comments

  • a bit unprotected/
  • RWY 14-32 Very common to see Cross runway operations, with Arrivals on 27 and Departures on 14.
This article was last modified 7 years ago