AAI to develop small airports

Poised for runway successPublished Date: 7/11/2007 - (NIE)
V Ayyappan
AS low-cost airlines are eager to connect smaller towns with metros, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a mandate from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to revive small airports and airstrips.
The agency has turned its attention on smaller airports in Salem, Puducherry, Vellore and Tuticorin and is all set to spruce them up and provide more facilities.
Of these, only Tuticorin is operational with Air Deccan operating a Chennai-Madurai-Tuticorin service everyday. However, as more number of people from small towns have evinced interest in air travel, low-cost airlines and also full service car riers have started enquiring with the AAI about the feasibility of starting services from Salem and Puducherry airports.
The smaller non-operational airports will get a new lease of life as the unexpected boom in aviation, powered by low-cost domestic carriers, has forced the AAI and the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to move away from traditional norms and yardsticks used to develop airports.
''Earlier, the government looked at feasibility. If a proposal was sent to develop a small airport they used to ask 'who is going to fly there'. And that used to be an excuse to block funds, said a senior official.
But, things have changed now. ''We have been told to keep all airports ready so that the airlines will be encouraged to start operations,'' he added.
And the new policy is paying off. When the AAI had put up terminals, parking bays (two B737 aircraft can be parked), and navigational aid and repaired the runway of 6000 feet at Salem airport, a few airlines had started thinking of starting services, said K Ramalingam, Regional Executive Director, Southern Region, AAI.
Even though many airlines have not confirmed their intention to start services, AAI is going ahead with their development plan. ''A night landing system will be installed very soon,'' he added.
Similar is the case with Puducherry airport. After several years of disuse (only flight training school used the airport), Jagson Airways started commercial operations in June 2006 when AAI had repaired the terminal and upgraded the fire station.
However, the service has been discontinued for reasons other than infrastructure. Still, the AAI is planning to put runway lighting very soon, he said.
The AAI is also planning to revive the Vellore air strip into a proper airport amidst local demand.
Already, works were completed for providing bare necessities to operate small aircraft. A flying club is already using it as a base. It has a runway of 2,600 feet though modern navigational aid is yet to be installed. The AAI seems to have promised to take up the works after the Greenfield airport and airport expansion project were finalised for Chennai.
The Vaigaikulam airport of Tuticorin opened for commercial flight operation when Air Deccan's Chennai-Madurai-Tuticorin landed at the airport in the first week of April 2006. Now, AAI is planning to upgrade the airport by providing runway lights and night landing system.
The terminals were refurbished and fire and rescue service equipment were installed in the airport, which has a runway of 1,350 feet, suitable for ATR-42 model aircraft.