DGCA nod for high-speed exit from runway

Kolkata: A taxiway at Kolkata airport that has been in place for nearly three years has got a go-ahead from the aviation regulator and will now be used as a rapid exit taxiway. This will help save 8-10 precious seconds of runway occupancy time by arriving aircraft, clearing the main runway for departing flights.
“We have got clearance to declare taxiway R as rapid exit taxiway for flights arriving from Madhyamgram-end or north of the runway. This runway is in use for over seven months a year and will allow planes to exit at high speed. At present, planes have to either brake hard to reduce speed before turning into taxiway R or roll ahead and exit the runway from taxiway C further down the runway. Either way, planes stay longer on the runway and therefore delay its use by another flight. With the commissioning of taxiway R as rapid exit taxiway, planes can move off the primary runway at high speed,” explained Kolkata airport air traffic control (ATC) general manager R S Lahauria.
Planes touch down at 250-300kmph and need to brake to exit the runway. When there is a rapid exit taxiway, it can turn into the taxiway at 90kmph.