DGCA Lists Mangalore Airport Among 11 Most Unsafe in Country

New Delhi - 25 Nov 2011 (IANS): A year-and-a-half after the tragic Air India crash, Mangalore Airport has earned the tag of being among the most unsafe airports in the country.

The government said that it had identified 11 airports which posed a safety risk to flight operations in the country. The safety aspects of these airports have been enhanced.

"Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified 11 airports which were considered critical airports from flight operations point of view," Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The airports are: Leh, Kullu, Shimla, Port Blair, Agartala, Lengpui, Calicut, Mangalore, Jammu, Patna and Latur.

"The airport systems, facilities and procedures were thoroughly reviewed by DGCA to enhance the safety of aircraft operations at these airports," Ravi said.

"Inspection of these airports was carried out by teams of officials from flight operations directorate and aerodrome standards directorate," he added.

The minister said that DGCA's several recommendations to enhance safety have been adopted in these airports.

"The following suggestions have been implemented -- provision of runway end safety area, ensuring proper markings on the runway and proper maintenance of the basic strip," he said.