Hey everyone, I just checked this month’s schedule and noticed that VABB is once again assigned on Friday. I don’t quite understand this arrangement.
First of all, I don’t have any particular preference for the airport itself — what matters to me is whether it can handle the corresponding traffic load.
VABB has been scheduled multiple times on weekends and Fridays, and as we all know, that often leads to significant delays and creates major challenges for ATCs.
Is this really what the players want?
We could easily schedule VABB between Monday and Thursday instead.
As far as I’m aware - Mumbai Airport (VABB) has no plans to add a third runway. There is in fact a new airport in the Mumbai Area being built - Navi Mumbai International Airport, which will have two parallel runways when completed.
I controlled VABB myself multiple times with moderate traffic. Even with this traffic level it can result in long landing queues, especially when planes arrive from different headings, which is pretty often at this airport. Also TG is no fun with huge amounts of planes lining up. I don’t get it too why this airport is so often featured on weekends :). Maybe some need the challenge or simply don’t care to be 30min < in a holding pattern.
I agree sometimes it becomes immensely chaotic at VABB esp. without approach (usually 2 needed in peak) but many people including me love flying to a busy chaotic Mumbai.
It is one of the most accurately made airports in IF and it came out with some of the first 3D airports. Its proximity to sea on one side and hills on the other also make it a scenic airport to arrive to. It is a different feeling altogether for people who use VABB irl as a pilot or passenger.
The wide variety of airlines and aircraft types it serves also adds to the appeal of it. It is also one of the busiest and most efficiently managed single runway airports. Mumbai ATC is also well regarded for managing additional flights during surrounding airspace closures.
There is a certain time, mostly around 1200Z-1300Z where the traffic usually is just the right amount. If you plan your arrival/departure around it, it would be a pleasurable experience.
I speak for myself when I say VABB is equivalent to KJFK in India (only in appeal terms, pls dont come at me with JFK is huge n other things).
All in all, VABB deserves to be featured on a weekend/holiday/weekday. I agree for a few hours it becomes frustrating but few controllers love the challenge and pilots like it for being extra attentive while approaching.
Eventually, we will have other big Indian airports such as VOBL, VIDP, VOMM, VOHS etc and the traffic will divide. VABB would be a great airport to combine with all those airports. Ofcourse other Indian airports also deserve to be highlighted whenever Indian airports are featured.
Well, that’s right; without multi-frequency use, it’s hard to control.
But a few pilots didn’t follow the right app frequency, which made it hard to control.
