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Sometimes aircraft have to make an immediate and emergency landing due to some emergency or ongoing threat. In case of a medical emergency, any passenger on the aircraft who needs to exit the aircraft is also considered as an emergency landing of the aircraft. Sometimes broad highways are used as emergency landing strips for such aircraft.
The first emergency landing highway in India will be on the NH 925 in Rajasthan for the planes of the Air Force of India. It took place in September month of the year 2021. Let us learn more about the NH 925 emergency landing.
Emergency landing of aircrafts
An emergency landing is an unexpected landing made by the aircraft due to some emergencies or ongoing threats to the safety of the aircraft or people present in it. The aircraft could also make a landing due to a medical emergency of one of the passengers. It usually consists of the first divergence to the nearest airport of airport landing or emergency highway landings.
There are various types of emergency landings.
- Forced landing: This type of landing arises due to technical problems, and the landing should be done as soon as possible, no matter where. This is done to minimise the possibility of injury to passengers.
- Precautionary landing: A medical or police emergency could lead to a precautionary landing. The worsening aircraft conditions and its deteriorating weather conditions could also result in a precautionary landing.
- Ditching: It is similar to force landing but is on water. However, if the aircraft is not made for floating, it will sink in some time.
The procedure of emergency landing
No engine power is available during fixed landing, and fixed-wing aircraft glides. The rotary winglet aircraft that are helicopters will auto-rotate to the ground. The pilots practised simulation force landings to be equipped to deal with such situations.
Emergency landing highway in India
The idea of an emergency landing highway in India was first initiated when the transport planes of the Air Force of India conducted mock landings on the expressway of Lucknow-Agra. It was to display that the National highway could be used for landings of Indian Air Force planes in case of emergency. India’s first emergency landing strip on the highway is on the NH 925, located in Parmar of the state of Rajasthan. This strip is designated for the emergency landing of Indian Air Force planes. The inauguration of this emergency landing strip was done by Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, the union ministers. An IAF plane carrying these two ministers made an emergency landing on NH 925. This was the first of NH 925 being used as an emergency landing for an IAF aircraft. The NHAI, which is the National highways authority of India, has developed a 3 kilometres section for emergency landings in NH 925 A. The cost of this project is about 765.52 crore rupees under the Bharatmala Pariyojna. Apart from this emergency landing strip on NH 925, three helipads in kundanpura, Bakhasar and Singhania were developed. This is supposed to strengthen the security network of the Indian army on the Western International boundary of India.
Construction of emergency landing
This emergency landing strip on NH 925 was constructed in a total period of 19 months. The highways minister Nitin Gadkari thanked the defence ministry and the Air Force for their support in this project. Around this emergency landing strip, no airport within 350 km exists.
Rajnath Singh, the defence minister at that time, said that 20 new emergency landing strips similar to the one on NH 925 were being constructed across India. They help during the time of war and help in relief operations during any kind of disaster. The NH 925 on which the emergency landing strip has been constructed is expected to improve the connectivity between the Jalore districts and Barnard, located on the international border. Otherwise, the 19 trips will be used to regulate the road traffic. Rajnath Singh further added, “By creating a strip near the international border, we have given a message that we will stand up for unity, diversity and sovereignty of our country at whatever the cost.” The 3 kilometres section of the Satta-Gandharv stretch of the NH 295 was developed by the National highways authority of India that is NHAI.
This was all about the emergency landing strip on the NH 925 highway.
Conclusion:
There could be numerous emergencies like a medical emergency, an ongoing threat, etc. An aircraft may have to make an emergency landing. These landings could take place on the emergency landing strip. Emergency landing strips could also be constructed nationally. India’s first emergency landing strip is on the NH 925 in Barmer, Rajasthan. This strip is 3 kilometres and was in about 19 months. 20 similar emergency strips are being constructed across India. The aircraft of the Indian Air Force will be landing on these emergency landing strips.
