Aircraft approaches for landing on Runway 24 at Mangaluru International Airport over the PAL system towers.

Mangaluru International Airport has successfully commissioned the Precision Approach Lighting (PAL) Category I system for Runway 24 following approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This marks a significant milestone in enhancing operational safety and landing precision at the airport.

The PAL Category I system is designed to provide pilots with enhanced visual guidance during the critical final stages of landing, particularly under conditions of reduced visibility at a tabletop facility.

A media statement said this project stands out as one of the most unique and first of its kind airfield lighting installations in India. The approach lighting system features Airfield Lighting Intelligent Management Systems (ALIMS) mounted on specially engineered towers, extending 900 metre outwards from the runway threshold. Most of these towers rise higher than the iconic Qutub Minar, highlighting the scale and engineering complexity involved, it said.

The installation involved mounting precision approach lights on elevated lattice structures, an approach that is rare globally and was earlier identified as a distinctive feature of the project design. Each lattice structure, numbering 17, has a barrette with four lights and a sequential flashing light in the centre. The barrette can be lowered to the ground for maintenance, the statement said.

A key highlight of the project’s execution is the zero-accident record maintained throughout the construction phase, underscoring the airport’s adherence to the highest standards of safety, planning, and execution, it said.

The facility is first project of its kind in India and second in Asia, placing Mangaluru International Airport among a select group of airports worldwide, with such advanced infrastructure, the statement said.

The commissioning of the PAL system reflects the airport’s continuous focus on adopting advanced technologies to enhance aviation safety and passenger confidence, it added.

Published on June 15, 2026