In a monumental stride towards enhancing passenger safety and operational resilience, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai announces commissioning of its specialized Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK).
CSMIA becomes the first airport in Asia to have the DARK facility with High Pressure lifting bags, that ensures superior durability, requires minimal manpower, and provides more efficient recovery process, in contrast to conventional low-pressure counterparts.
“Runway excursion”, a scenario where aircraft unintentionally veers off or overruns the runway during take-off or landing, is a critical concern in aviation. It requires swift and meticulous intervention to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft, and airport operations. DARK, a remarkable addition to CSMIA's infrastructure, empowers the airport to respond to such scenarios with unparalleled precision and efficiency, hence minimizing disruptions and reducing the impact on travellers. Operating with a single crossover runway, CSMIA can use the DARK facility with High pressure kit to the best of its capabilities for faster movement & deployment, restoring runway operations while protecting the aircraft.
DARK has the ability to swiftly recover the biggest commercial aircraft in operations in the world, including B777-300, which weighs 390 Metric tons. The kit would cater for the most demanding and critical aircraft which regularly operate from Mumbai.
The recovery process encompasses a meticulous sequence of steps, from ground preparation to aircraft lifting, de-bogging, and towing. Furthermore, the compact design of the equipment enhances its transportability, allowing rescuers to reach crash sites swiftly and effectively. With DARK in place, Mumbai airport can minimise disruptions and expedite the resumption of operations, a crucial advantage in today's dynamic aviation landscape. The kit allows for business continuity and resilience of other airports as well.
This sophisticated kit can be operated with comparatively fewer trained personnel, the bags occupy smaller footprint, and recovery operation 4x faster than low pressure bag system.
CSMIA’s highly trained Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) officers underwent an intensive five-day training program that covered legal aspects, tethering, ground stabilization, lifting techniques using low-pressure bags, multi-sling utilization, and de-bogging procedures, ensuring that CSMIA boasts a cadre of highly skilled professionals ready to act swiftly in the face of adversity.
Training composed of classroom and practical training. The entire kit was spread over an area of gigantic hangar space at the airport, and the different units disassembled. The different equipment were in 46 containers, a compressor to power the systems to inflate the bags, tethers to stabilise the 6 metre-tall inflated bags a trailer and wing transition.
The acquisition of the Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK) perfectly aligns with CSMIA's strategy of resilient airport infrastructure whilst enhancing passenger experience. By significantly bolstering the airport's operational resilience, DARK mitigates the repercussions of aircraft accidents or runway excursions. It expedites runway operations, minimizing flight cancellations and passenger inconveniences.
CSMIA remains committed to ensuring the readiness of the DARK equipment. Rigorous annual exercises and regular training sessions will be conducted to validate its readiness, crew familiarity, communication procedures, and interoperability with various agencies. In-house maintenance, complemented by an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for service and spares, guarantees the equipment's continuous reliability.
In embracing the Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK), CSMIA stands as a testament to its unwavering commitment to passenger safety, operational excellence, and technological innovation. This advanced facility reinforces CSMIA's position as a global aviation leader, ushering in an era of safer and more secure air travel across the world.
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