The Navi Mumbai International Airport, set to begin operations in May 2025, is facing significant operational challenges due to the presence of numerous obstacles in its vicinity. The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) has identified approximately 225 obstacles, including dish antennas, hoardings, and parapet walls, which pose a risk to safe flight operations. These obstructions necessitate careful navigation by air traffic control to ensure safe landings and takeoffs.

The obstacles listed in the AIP include a variety of structures such as a building’s dish antenna (36.3 meters), grill top (35.8 meters), staircase room top (34.9 meters), hoarding top (34 meters), and parapet wall (31.4 meters). Other obstructions include pipe tops, design tops, and ladder tops. These structures are located along the approach path to the airport, requiring adjustments to ensure safe flight operations.

To mitigate the risks posed by these obstacles, a “displaced threshold” has been implemented on runway 26. This means that aircraft approaching from the east will not use the physical start of the runway for landing. Instead, the designated landing point begins 600 meters down the runway, ensuring safer clearance over the obstacles. This adjustment is crucial for maintaining safety standards while navigating the restricted airspace around the airport.

The presence of these obstacles will require air traffic control to operate with limited manoeuvring space for landing and departing aircraft. According to air safety expert Capt Amit Singh, “The air traffic control would have to deal with the restrictions that come with the terrain and obstructions around. They will have restricted manoeuvring space for the aircraft coming in to land and taking off; it will be cramped.” This highlights the complexity of managing air traffic in such conditions.

Despite these challenges, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is moving forward with its operational preparations. The AIP publication marks a significant step towards obtaining the aerodrome license necessary for the airport to become operational. The airport is expected to alleviate the congestion at Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which operates at full capacity with only one runway.

As Navi Mumbai Airport prepares for its inaugural operations, addressing the challenges posed by obstacles around the airport is crucial. The implementation of safety measures such as the displaced threshold on runway 26 underscores the commitment to ensuring safe flight operations despite these challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Navi Mumbai International Airport faces approximately 225 obstacles, including dish antennas and hoardings.
• A displaced threshold on runway 26 has been implemented to ensure safe landings over these obstacles.
• Air traffic control will have limited manoeuvring space due to the surrounding terrain and obstructions.
• The airport is set to begin operations in May 2025, aiming to alleviate congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport.