The Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) has completed the setup of two important systems that help ensure aeroplanes can land and take off safely. These systems are called the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). They are essential for guiding planes during landings and take-offs at the airport, which is scheduled to open on April 17, 2025.
The new airport is being built in Jewar, which is in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. This step is to make travel easier for people flying within India and to other countries, especially for those coming from and going to Delhi, Noida, and western Uttar Pradesh. When it is finished, this airport will be the biggest one in India.
The airport is being built by a company called Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), which is owned by Zurich Airport International AG. They are working together with the state government to make this airport happen. The process to set up the systems for the airport took place from October 10 to October 14 and was done by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) using a special aircraft called the Beechcraft King Air 360ER. Now that this important step is complete, the runway and its systems are ready for commercial flights.
Arun Vir Singh, the CEO of NIAL, said that setting up these systems is very important to make sure the runway is safe for planes to use. He explained that the Instrument Landing System (ILS) is especially helpful for guiding planes when they land, particularly when it’s hard to see. The ILS has a part called a localiser, which helps line up the plane with the runway, and another part called a glide path antenna, which helps pilots control how they are descending safely.
Singh also talked about the importance of PAPI system. This system has lights along the runway that help pilots see the right angle to land as they get closer to the runway. He mentioned that without the ILS and PAPI systems, the airport wouldn't be able to open. Singh said, "Both ILS and PAPI are essential for safe landings, especially when the weather is bad. They help reduce delays and make sure everything runs smoothly at the airport."
Future preparations and developments
Since October 10, the airport has been doing daily take-offs and landings to check that all safety systems are working correctly. Singh said that NIAL is closely working with several important organisations, including the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and both the state and central governments to make sure everything starts as scheduled.
YIAPL is discussing with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) about international flight routes. They are also working with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to plan domestic flight routes. NIAL has told the company in charge to make sure that both domestic and international flights can start operating by the deadline of April 17.
As part of getting ready for the airport to open, there will be tests for commercial flights on November 30. Airlines like IndiGo and Akasa will carry out full flight tests with their crews to make sure the runway is ready and that all systems are working correctly before the airport officially opens.
The first part of the airport will cost about ₹5,700 crore and will cover a large area of 1,334 hectares. It will have one runway and one terminal, which can handle up to 12 million passengers every year. Later, the airport will be expanded to serve 70 million passengers with two runways and two terminals, costing around ₹29,561 crore in total. A second runway and terminal will be built when the airport is almost full at 80% capacity. More runways will be added as more people use the airport, increasing capacity to 30 million, then 50 million, and finally 70 million passengers.