ALL CLEAR. A plane approaches runway 24 at Mangaluru
airport, past the precision approach lighting system towers
Aircraft landing at the Mangaluru International Airport has become safer, especially under poor visibility, with the recent commissioning of the precision approach lighting (PAL) category I system for runway 24.Approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the PAL system has been mounted on 17 massive towers erected in the valley below the tabletop runway at the airport.The system features airfield lighting intelligent management systems (ALIMS) mounted on the specially engineered towers, extending 900 m outwards from the runway threshold.The system provides a clear visual reference for pilots during landing approach, particularly in low-visibility conditions, such as rain, fog or haze, at a tabletop facility, such as the airport in Mangaluru.The lighting configuration enables precise alignment with the runway centreline.Airport officials say the system significantly improves pilot confidence and approach stability, given the topographical characteristics of the tabletop runway in Mangaluru. Enhanced visual cues aid a smoother landing, thereby improving operational efficiency and minimising disruptions.The use of ALIMS ensures centralised monitoring and efficient management of airfield lighting systems.According to Amber Dubey, CEO (Aero) of Adani Airports, Mangaluru, is only the second tabletop airport in Asia with such a system, after Chongqing in China. He says the tallest of these towers exceeds the height of the Qutub Minar in Delhi by 10 m.Capt Brijesh Chowta, Dakshina Kannada MP, says enhanced operational reliability will strengthen Mangaluru’s status as an important gateway connecting coastal Karnataka with the rest of India and the world.The Mangaluru airport has introduced several measures to improve the safety of aircraft operations after an Air India Express flight from Dubai overshot the runway during landing, leaving 158 people dead, in 2010. To improve runway visibility, it had earlier installed centre-line lights — inset lights that complement the runway edge and threshold lights.Published on July 13, 2026
