Belgrade Airport adopts second runway contingency plan

NEWS FLASH

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has finalised comprehensive plans and procedures to ensure a seamless transition from its main runway, which reopened late last year following an extensive overhaul, to the inserted runway, now serving as a parallel taxiway, should the need arise. The German consultancy firm Airsight developed a detailed concept of operations and an action plan defining the steps required to shift from main to contingency runway operations. As a result, the airport now possesses a complete and functional guide for transitioning to contingency runway use in cases where the main runway becomes unavailable. A key aspect evaluated throughout the project was the formal designation of the contingency runway. Although it normally functions as a taxiway during regular operations, it was determined that designating it as a runway would provide greater operational clarity and flexibility. Consequently, it will appear in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) as part of a two-runway system, with Belgrade Airport operating under one of two modes depending on which runway is active at a given time.

To support the management of infrastructure changes, Airsight provided detailed computer-aided design (CAD) drawings for each mode of operation, illustrating the configuration of visual aids and taxi routes. Additionally, dedicated checklists were created to specify the status of all visual aids under each operational scenario, clearly indicating which elements should be activated or deactivated in accordance with the relevant sections of the Certification Specifications for Aerodrome Design (CS ADR-DSN). Airsight also developed action-based checklists structured as chronologically sequenced process steps for the airport operator and key stakeholders to follow during both planned and unplanned transitions. These checklists are designed to ensure a swift, thorough and well-coordinated review of all items critical to the transition process.