Are the tabletop airports safe ??

The incident of kozhikode has brought the tabletop airports into limelight because of the risks it carries with it.As there are 5 such airports in India at Kozhikode,Mangalore,shimla,sikkim and mizoram.

              A tabletop runway is a runway that is located on the top of a plateau or hill with one or both ends adjacent to a steep precipice which drops into a deep gorge.This type of runway creates an optical illusion which requires a very precise approach by the pilot.

       There was a bad meteorological condition in Kerala which hampered the visibility of the pilot and due to the terrain ,the accident occurred.

           This kind of risk is similar with all the tabletop airports  which results in overshooting or undershooting of flights . As the DGCA revealed the safety concerns,runway extensions and surface problems like deposition of rubber and other materials are prominent.

                         We can evidently say that tabletop airports are risk driven but the damage can be minimised by following the safety protocols and timely check of the surroundings.