Kannur airport to be ready by 2014

Thiruvananthapuram: The shares of the Kannur International Airport Ltd will be available at a premium for those who have applied after June 16, Ports and Airports Minister K Babu told the Kerala Assembly.
So far the company - which is building the state’s fourth international airport in the northern district - has received applications for shares worth Rs1.75bn.
The minister said the rate of premium for the late applicants will be decided by a committee later.
Subscribers should apply for a minimum of 2001 shares with a face value of Rs100.
A sub-committee has been formed to decide on the shareholding pattern of individuals and private business groups.
The KIAL has issued shares worth Rs50mn each to the public sector Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) and Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) and Rs1mn to the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises.
“We have also fixed a timeline for completing the project without delay. The work on the runway will begin next year and the first phase of the airport will be ready by 2014,” the minister said in response to a submission moved by local legislator A P Abdullakutty.
The techno-economic feasibility study has been completed and the government of India has accorded in-principle approval for the project.
Nearly 1276 acres of land has been acquired so far and notification for the remaining 783 acres issued. The government is in the process of handing over the land to the KIAL.
16/07/11 Ashraf Padanna/Gulf Times

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PMO wants to know why DIAL costs rose

New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office has asked the civil aviation ministry to explain why the cost of building the Capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport rose 42%, although the project was commissioned on time. The PMO action follows a Parliament member’s complaint that the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) project, built as a public-private partnership, saw a cost escalation from R8,975 crore to R12,718 crore.
Further, a KPMG audit report has said the ministry and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) were not informed of the increased cost on a regular and proactive basis. AAI, which has nominees on the DIAL board, holds 26% in DIAL, while GMR holds 54%. Malaysia Airports Holdings and Fraport AG hold 10% each.
The higher cost means the government will have to spend more for a viable rate of return. It also led to a decision to levy airport development charges, which were, however, dropped after a court order.
Sources said that Davinder PS Sandhu, director in the PMO, wrote to the ministry seeking its explanation. An aviation ministry official confirmed the receipt of the letter, adding, “We are preparing a reply.”
Two consultants — KPMG and Engineers India Ltd engaged by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India to make financial and technical audits respectively of the project — have reported that DIAL overshot its target and built additional floor area, costing R700 crore more.
12/07/11 Nirbhay Kumar/Financial Express

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Ministry set to overrule CAG, okay DIAL joint ventures

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has decided to overrule the objections of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on GMR's Delhi Airport forming joint venture companies in areas like retail and cargo to enhance its revenues from non-aeronautical streams.
The CAG had asked the ministry to examine the entire issue of Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) forming such JVs as it could lead to loss of revenue for the Airports Authority of India. The agreement between DIAL and AAI mandates the former to share 46% of its annual revenue with the latter.
The apprehension arose because as far as operation and maintenance of airport is concerned the revenue would be shared between GMR and AAI in proportion to their equity stake. But in case of other JVs of DIAL there would be a third party also so revenue of AAI could come down.
Sources said that the civil aviation ministry has brushed aside such apprehensions after seeking the opinion of the attorney general, which states that there's no clause which refrains DIAL from setting up such JVs.
However, the ministry is proposing to specifically lay down the areas where such partnerships can be entered into.
30/06/11 Nirbhay Kumar

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Airport expansion delay to cost dear

Chennai: The expansion and modernization works at Chennai airport were delayed by a year because the huge quantity of rocks in the substrata had to be blasted in a controlled manner, said Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday. Yechury is chairman of the nine-member parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture that reviewed the project. "There is going to be an escalation in cost due to the delay and due to inflation. But we will not allow the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to pass on the burden to the passengers.
The AAI should go in for loans and complete the project without further delays," he said hinting that the committee would oppose any move to slap user development fee (UDF) on passengers. Yechuri also said that "the AAI is confident of completing the project by December this year or January next year. We want the airport to be of top quality." A senior AAI official said the escalation in cost would be minor. Other officials apprised the committee that 76% of the project was completed. All electrical works, including construction of a sub-station, were over. Airport expansion works include construction of two new terminals, a flyover connecting the terminals, power substations, car park and other ancillary works. In a statement, the AAI said the standing committee had expressed satisfaction over the quality of the works in spite of the constraints faced because they were being carried out in a brown field (functional) airport.
30/06/11 Times of India

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Terminal illness: Snag grounds 50 flights for 14 hrs

New Delhi: A system failure at the IGI Airport led to about 50 flights being delayed as passengers had to be checked in manually. The almost 14 hour-long technical snag primarily affected the three domestic airlines that operate out of terminal 3 which saw delays of 15-45 minutes.
Airport sources said that the system failure at T3 took place at around 2.30am on Tuesday. It affected check-in counters, the transfer desk and departure gates.
"When the technical glitch happened, only international operations were on. The strange thing about the snag was that systems that had been logged in could function but no new entities could log in. Air India had some international operations on at night and hence about 14-odd counters were working. When domestic operations started in the morning, they had 14 counters from which electronic check-in took place but at 14 other counters passengers had to be checked-in manually. Passengers of smaller aircraft and ATRs were manually checked in," said an airline source.
International operations were also affected though they did not witness any delays. "International airlines had a four hour window and managed to ensure their flights took off on time even though they checked in passengers manually," said an airline official.
29/06/11 Times of India

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Aviation ministry gets sway over airport regulator

New Delhi: In a move that could have far reaching implications on India’s fast growing aviation sector, the ministry of law and justice has given an opinion reasserting the supremacy of the aviation ministry over the airport regulator on policy issues.
The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (Aera) was set up in 2009 to regulate tariff for aeronautical services provided at major airports in India and determine other airport charges. Aera is in the process of drafting a tariff structure for airports. The latest advice means that the ministry will have a greater say on determination of airport charges.
The law department’s advice brings to an end the bitter turf war between the ministry and the Aera that began after theregulator had sought and received an opinion from the additional attorney- general last November that the powers of the central government to issue directions to Aera was not “unbridled” and was restricted to the subjects that are “in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality.”
However, the law ministry has now said: “The Aera Act gives the government an independent and additional power to issue directions on subject of policy”. Aera chief Yashwant Bhave declined comment on the issue.
29/06/11 Tushar Srivastava/Hindustan Times

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Glideapth to focus on cargo; in talks with MIDC for Nagpur hub

Mumbai: New Zealand-based aviation technology firm Glidepath today said it is in talks with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for a contract for baggage handling and airport security systems at the proposed Nagpur aircargo hub and said its future focus in the country will be cargo terminals.
"..We are at the preliminary discussion with the MIDC for bagging the contract for installing baggage and security systems at the proposed air cargo hub at Nagpur," Glidepath sales manger for SAARC region, Rajesh Karla told PTI here. Karla is part of the New Zealand trade and business delegation accompanying the visiting premier John Key. Karla also said they are in touch with the Airports Authority of India, and the two leading private airport operators - GMR, that operates the Delhi and Hyderabad airports, and GVK which runs the Mumbai airport, for more business orders. Glidepath, which has just completed the baggage and security systems installation at the cargo terminal of the Hyderabad airport, said it has just set up its first India office in Mumbai. Glidepath has already installed its systems at the arrival terminals of seven airports - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Indore.
29/06/11 PTI/IBN Live

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IndiGo will kickstart international ops with Delhi-Dubai flight

Budget carrier IndiGo Airlines, which signed a $16-billion deal with Airbus to buy 180 aircraft, plans to start international operations from September 1. In an interview with ET Now, IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh speaks to ET on the company's growth strategy and industry demand going ahead. Excerpts:
When will delivery for the 180 aircraft start?
We have ordered 180 aircraft, of which 150 will be the new Airbus A320 NEO. Delivery for these will start from 2015 and go on until 2024. Our existing order of 100 aircraft comes to an end in 2015. It will give us commonality of fleet. Also, we have chosen the Pratt & Whitney engines, which will help us burn 12-15% less fuel. We also have 50% improvement in emissions. Together, I think it will take IndiGo to the next generation four years from now.
How do you plan to finance the deal?
It will be a mix of operating and financing leasing, the same way we had funded our 100 aircraft buy six years ago.
What is IndiGo's plan on international routes? Which routes are you targeting?
We will start international operations on September 1. Our very first flight will be Delhi-Dubai. We will have flights from Delhi to Singapore and Bangkok. We will also connect Mumbai to Dubai and Bangkok. We also have plans to connect Mumbai to Muscat and Singapore.
30/06/11 Samir Hashmi/Economic Times

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Another midair med crisis lands in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: For the third time this month, a midair health emergency made Ahmedabad airport officials frantically put in place medical arrangements on the ground. On Wednesday, a British Airways London-to-Mumbai flight (BA-199) made a priority landing at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport after a four-year-old fainted onboard.
Akash Shavili, who was traveling with his family to Mumbai, suffered an epileptic attack minutes after the flight had crossed Pakistan. Soon after he fainted, the British Airways aircraft, a Boeing 747, was diverted to Ahmedabad and air traffic control officials were informed about the emergency at 11.07 am. The flight landed in the city at 11.30 am. Akash was rushed to Apollo Hospital from the airport. Akash's parents Arvind and Madhvi are practising doctors settled in the West Indies for the past 14 years.
"Seven of us took the flight from London to Mumbai and from there were going to Hyderabad. Akash was absolutely okay when he boarded the flight, but suddenly got an epileptic attack. Things were brought under control in the flight and he was conscious but drowsy when the flight landed at Ahmedabad," said Akash's mother, Madhvi. The flight departed for Mumbai at 1.19 pm leaving the seven passengers behind.
Doctors attending to Akash at the Apollo said that the boy's condition was stable.
30/06/11 Times of India

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Villagers oppose land to Gannavaram airport

Vijayawada: District administration is likely to face an uphill task in the acquisition of land to develop Gannavaram airport because farmers are unwilling to give their land. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is asking the state government to acquire 360 acre for the expansion of runway, construction of new terminal with international standards. But, the villagers allege that the government is forcibly taking their lands for construction of airport since 1938.

The irate villagers on Tuesday obstructed the revenue staff from conducting survey in Davajigudem and warned the latter that they would face dire consequences if they continue the survey. More than 150 villagers gathered since morning after they came to know that the district collector, Mr S.A.M. Rizvi, was visiting the village to supervise survey works. However, the collector cancelled his visit to the village.

The villagers protested against the proposals of the government to acquire land for expansion of runway and other works. With the intensive lobbying of peoples’ representatives of the district, the chief minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, agreed to release Rs 80 crore to acquire the land.

28/06/11 Deccan Chronicle

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Airports Authority of India seeks funds to keep pace with growth

New Delhi: After the announcement of major fleet expansion by domestic airlines at the Paris Air Show, India's airport developer Airports Authority of India (AAI) is desperately seeking more funds to keep pace with the robust growth that is expected to take place in the sector in the next five years.

AAI has sought additional funding to keep pace with the fleet and traffic expansion expected in India over the next few years. AAI, which invested around Rs 1,200 crore in modernisation projects last year, is working on 14 greenfield airports in India, which have been granted in-principle approval.

Airline companies from India have ordered one-third of the total airplane orders placed during the Paris Air Show last week, with IndiGo finalising orders for 180 jets and GoAir for 72 Airbus jets. Jet Airways has placed orders for 49 aircraft while low-cost carrier SpiceJet had signed a deal with Boeing to acquire 30 Boeing 737 at an estimated value of $2.7 billion.

India's airlines have placed orders worth $40 billion, but aviation experts have pointed out that poor infrastructure, debt, high fuel taxes and rising interest rates would be disturbing for the airline industry in India. Last year, out of its total expenditure of Rs 2,700 crore, AAI spent Rs 1,200 crore on face-lifting of the non- metro airports. The AAI has already disclosed plans to borrow Rs 900 crore this year and Rs 800 crore next year to fund the upgradation of 10 non-metro airports out of the total 35 such airports.

The AAI had raised about Rs 550 crore last year via bank loans and guarantees but was not allowed to issue bonds by the finance ministry. It is also exploring funding from the World Bank.

28/06/11 Sanjay Singh/India Today

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New terminal of Bhopal international airport opened for public

Bhopal: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Vayalar Ravi today inaugurated the new terminal of the Raja Bhoj International Airport here, making Bhopal one of the few cities in the country to start operating international flights.

Speaking on the occasion, Ravi said that with the new airport terminal at the Raja Bhoj airport, the industrial development in Madhya Pradesh could go up as it will operate international flights, after Indore in the state.

He also said that with the airport getting the facility for international flights, citizens of Bhopal would find it easy to travel abroad.

After opening the Rs 135 crore worth Integrated Terminal Building (ITB), the minister also assured that he would speak to the concerned departments for the opening of excise and customs counters in ITB.

Ravi also urged the Madhya Pradesh government to reduce the tax on fuel used by aircraft and also said that there was a need to have an air-connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and other states.

28/06/11 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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State witnesses new dimension in development: Governor

Bhopal: The Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that the modern integrated terminal equipped with all facilities has added a new dimension to development of Madhya Pradesh saying that the present terminal at Raja Bhoj airport was not enough in view of increasing demand of air services. He said that new terminal will improve air services. He congratulated the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the State Government for construction of the terminal saying that expansion will be instrumental in development of the state. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony for the newly constructed integrated terminal building at Raja Bhoj Air Port here today.

The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that inter-state air services will start from July. All districts will have airstrips. Presently 28 are having this facility, he added.

Chouhan said that the state government is extending all possible help for expansion of air services. All possible cooperation has been extended to Airport's Authority of India. Lands free of cost have been provided. Funds to the tune of Rs. 6 crore have been provided for construction of roads for the terminal and providing alternative passage for the local people.

Chouhan said that regular international flights will truly make it an international airport. He said that air service upto Jeddah is available for the Haj pilgrims but regular services are needed. He said that that state government is ready to provide lands for aircraft maintenance facility.

28/06/11 Central Chronicle

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State witnesses new dimension in development: Governor

Bhopal: The Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that the modern integrated terminal equipped with all facilities has added a new dimension to development of Madhya Pradesh saying that the present terminal at Raja Bhoj airport was not enough in view of increasing demand of air services. He said that new terminal will improve air services. He congratulated the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and the State Government for construction of the terminal saying that expansion will be instrumental in development of the state. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony for the newly constructed integrated terminal building at Raja Bhoj Air Port here today.

The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that inter-state air services will start from July. All districts will have airstrips. Presently 28 are having this facility, he added.

Chouhan said that the state government is extending all possible help for expansion of air services. All possible cooperation has been extended to Airport's Authority of India. Lands free of cost have been provided. Funds to the tune of Rs. 6 crore have been provided for construction of roads for the terminal and providing alternative passage for the local people.

Chouhan said that regular international flights will truly make it an international airport. He said that air service upto Jeddah is available for the Haj pilgrims but regular services are needed. He said that that state government is ready to provide lands for aircraft maintenance facility.

28/06/11 Central Chronicle

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Shortage of customs officers holds up fliers

Chennai: Passengers, who land in the Anna International Terminal at Chennai airport, are often stuck in long queues outside the baggage scan kiosks and counters for customs clearance due to severe shortage of customs officials.

The airport has five counters for baggage scans and 14 red channel tables where dutiable goods like gold, silver, perfumes and electronic goods are checked and assessed. The airport has just 86 air customs officers including assistant commissioners, superintendents and inspector-rank officers against the sanctioned strength of 113. Every day, officials are divided into four batches comprising one assistant commissioner, four superintendents and 10-12 air customs officers of inspector rank and posted for duty. The shortage forces officers to stretch work to 12 hours almost everyday. If officials troop in late, passengers who have travelled long distances are often forced to wait for long after midnight.

"We need at least two officers for each of the red channel tables. But the crowd waiting to be cleared starts building up because some counters remain unmanned even during peak hours," said an airport official. Airline Operators Committee (AOC) has also raised the issue with Airports Authority of India ( AAI) at several meetings in the last couple of months. "We often find passengers waiting in long queues for customs clearance. Airlines are also facing delays. We need more customs men to clear passengers fast," said an airline official.

28/06/11 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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New terminal of Raja Bhoj Intl Airport inaugurated

The new terminal of Raja Bhoj International Airport in Bhopal was inaugurated on Tuesday by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Vayalar Ravi.

“With the opening of the new airport terminal at the Raja Bhoj airport, the industrial development in Madhya Pradesh could go up as it will operate international flights, after Indore in the state”, Raja said.

After inaugurating the Rs 135-crore Integrated Terminal Building (ITB), the minister also assured he would speak to the concerned departments for the opening of excise and customs counters in ITB.

The new airport terminal is built over an area of 26,936 sq metres and the ITB has 14 check-in counters, four immigration counters for departures and 6 immigration counters for arrival.

It also has two customs counters, each for arrival and departure, and six X-ray machines for security. The runway at the airport has also been expanded from 6,000 ft to 9,000 ft.

The airport has night landing facilities, an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and will get a new fire station and control tower soon.

28/06/11 SamayLive

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Vizag airport to start 24x7 service

Visakhapatnam: It seems the long-pending demand of the Vizagites could take flight soon as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has, in principle, accepted the proposal of running round-the-clock operations in Visakhapatnam airport, if it handles 40 flights in a day.

With Spicejet Airways planning to operate another six services to Visakhapatnam from August-end, the total number of flights would reach 38. Presently, 32 flights are being operated from the Vizag airport to various destinations. The airport officials claimed that this number was far high when compared to other cities like Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Lucknow and Patna which operate far fewer flights in a day.

Sources said AAI chairman V P Agarawal had given this assurance to some of the public representatives from Vizag. "If the flight numbers cross 40, round-the-clock services at the airport could be a reality soon," sources said. The airport is under the control of the Indian Navy, which has expressed its inability to run 24-hour operations due to shortage of manpower.

But moves are afoot to have round-the-clock operations with the customs and immigration services already in place at the new terminal building.

29/06/11 Times of India

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Bus ride for Assam governor at airport

Kolkata: A wrangle between rival trade unions vying to control Airports Authority of India drivers in Kolkata led to an embarrassing situation at the airport on Tuesday morning when Assam governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik had to be ferried in a bus to the ceremonial lounge at the international terminal.

Protocol requires AAI to provide exclusive services for transporting governors between the terminal and the aircraft.

Patnaik arrived at Kolkata airport with ADC Maj S K Mani by a Jet Airways flight from Guwahati around 10.35am. As per protocol, he was allowed to disembark before other passengers. But when he stepped off the aircraft, there were no VIP cars waiting to transfer him to the ceremonial lounge meant for VVIPs.

Sources said trade union leaders affiliated to the Left-affiliated CITU and the Trinamool Congress-affiliated INTTUC were agitating at the office of the general manager, HR department, each demanding duty according to the shift of their choice.

While CITU has been controlling the union for decades, INTTUC has come to stake claim following the political change in the state.

29/06/11 Times of India

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No rainy days at IGI airport, smooth touchdown soon

New Delhi: Passengers flying with low-cost carriers (LCCs) into Delhi need not worry about long taxiing at the IGI Airport, this monsoon. The Dwarka end of the secondary runway will soon be equipped with the instrument landing system (ILS) that will allow aircraft to land in Category-I conditions.

The move will benefit LCCs, military and other aircraft as they use the apron located between the main and secondary runways. The Dwarka end of all three runways is used for landing when the wind direction is easterly, a very common phenomenon during the monsoon season. The secondary runway that comes in handy, when either the main or new runway is out of service, could not be used in such conditions since it was not equipped with an ILS.

"The landing minima for category D aircraft from the 09 end of the secondary runway is 3,200m and for category C aircraft (including A-320s and Boeing 747) it is 2,400m. That made its use very limited. If any of the other two runways, especially the main runway, could not be used during changed wind conditions, it led to massive congestion for arriving aircraft as only one runway would be available for landing," said a senior official from the ministry of civil aviation.

28/06/11 Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Now, Anushka Sharma detained at airport

Mumbai: Actor Anushka Sharma was detained by the Customs department at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) on Monday afternoon with undeclared jewellery worth around Rs 45 lakh.
Much like the case of Minissha Lamba in May, Sharma was apparently carrying borrowed jewellery without any documentation or supporting bills and had not declared them on arrival in Mumbai.
Sharma was arriving from Toronto by an Air India flight when she was apprehended by Assistant Commissioner of Customs Sameer Wankhede. “She has claimed that the jewellery is not hers, and that she had borrowed them for the IIFA Awards,” a Customs official said.
It is a practice for actors to borrow jewels in exchange for promotion. However, they are required to carry a certificate stating that the jewels are not for trading purposes and will be brought back with them when they return. Like Lamba, Sharma was not carrying this certificate, officials said.
28/06/11 Indian Express

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Sharjah man dies aboard AI Express flight

A 56-year old Indian expatriate from Sharjah died aboard Air India Express flight (IX 354) from Sharjah to Calicut on Sunday morning.
In a tragic story, family members waiting at the airport meet him, had to carry his dead body home.
Karakkapurayil Mohammed Kunju (56), who was travelling from Sharjah International Airport to Karippur International Airport with his brother K P Khader on the early morning flight, developed breathlessness mid-air and fell unconscious, according to airline sources.
Mohammed hails from CP House, Kannur, Kerala.
“After he complained of restlessness and breathlessness, cabin crew members gave him first aid. However, he fell unconscious and the pilot informed the airport authorities to keep emergency medical services and doctors ready for his treatment on landing,” said the source.
Even though an emergency medical team was ready at the Karippur International Airport, the passenger was already dead.
The deceased is survived by his wife Noorja and three children.
Abhay Pathak, Regional Head of Air India in the Gulf said he did not have details of the medical reasons behind the death. “In such cases, the airport authorities are responsible for providing the essential medical services.”
28/06/11 VM Satish/Emirates24/7

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Major mishap averted, deer run over at Nagpur airport

Nagpur: A major mishap was averted at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Monday morning after a barking deer was crushed under the wheels of Nagpur-Delhi Air India plane, carrying over 80 passengers and crew on board. According to airport sources, the incident occurred at 9.20am when the flight AI 628 was taking off for Delhi. This is the eighth incident at the airport in the last one month when a wild animal has strayed onto the runaway causing disturbance. Two wild boars had last week come under the wheels of a flight.
VK Yadav, senior station director of the Nagpur airport, informed that all the passengers of Air India were safe and the flight took off 30 minutes late.
He, however, candidly admitted that there were deers, wild boars and stray dogs in the airport vicinity. "We have requested the state forest department to help catch the wild animals," he added. The forest department officials are coming to Nagpur airport on Tuesday for launching a "wild animal" hunt operation.
27/06/11 Pradip Kumar Maitra/Hindustan Times

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Government gives go-ahead to hive off ATC services from Airports Authority of India

Mumbai: The government has given its go-ahead to hive off the air traffic control (ATC) services from Airports Authority of India, unlocking the potential to upgrade air traffic control systems in a fast-growing aviation market where safety standards lag behind global benchmarks.

The approval is likely to expedite the process to house ATC services (control of aircraft from the ground and in the air) which mainly include route navigation facilities, terminal navigation and instrument landing under an independent body, allowing AAI to focus on its core function of managing and operating airports.
Aviation experts say independent focus will put the development of air navigation services on a fast-track apart from giving the much-needed fillip to the modernisation of the air traffic control systems and equipment operating at the Indian airports.

The hive off plan stems from the growing belief among the aviation pundits that air traffic and air navigation services are totally different from managing and operating an airport. Air traffic services in developed markets like the US and Europe are kept out of the ambit of airport operations.
27/06/11 Manisha Singhal/Economic Times

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Evening is new morning at airport

Calcutta: The morning rush-hour madness at Calcutta airport is prompting frequent fliers to take late-evening or night flights a day before to ensure they do not miss appointments.
“Over the past few months, many fliers with confirmed tickets have been rescheduling their departures to the evening or night before as they don’t want to take the strain of standing in snaking queues in the morning and risk missing flights,” Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents Federation of India, said.
Last month, ophthalmologist Vivek Verma missed a morning flight to Delhi — and a surgery scheduled for that afternoon — despite reaching the airport two hours before the scheduled departure.
“My flight was to take off at 9.05am, but I was stuck in a long queue from the entry to the terminal to security check. The airline couldn’t put me on any other morning flight and I reached Delhi in the afternoon, by which time the surgery had been postponed,” Verma told Metro.
Business travellers account for the majority of those rescheduling their flights to avoid the stress of morning travel from the city airport, tour operators said.
27/06/11 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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Night flying facility may start at Porbandar airport

Gandhinagar: From initial reluctance, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is now veering towards commissioning night flying facility at Porbandar airport, which will go a long way in bolstering maritime air reconnaissance in the strategic north-west (NW) region.
So far the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have been unable to carry out regular night flights from Porbandar as the AAI, which controls this airport, was not too keen on the idea despite installation of approach lighting system at the aerodrome.
Commissioning of coast guard's air enclave in June 2008 and raising of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron by the Navy at Porbandar in 2011, brought in the need to have extended watch hours at the airport, including at night.
"The request of the Indian security agencies to allow night flying in Porbandar is under consideration. We may commission the night flying facility at the airport in another two months time," a senior officer in the AAI's air traffic management department, Mumbai, said.
27/06/11 Anand McNairAnand McNair/Times of India

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Transport firm holds Air India staffers hostage for non-payment of dues

Mumbai: On Thursday the employees of national carrier Air India (AI) had to face the consequences of the airline’s non-payment of dues.
As the airline had defaulted on payment of £60,000 to the transport company, it took 11 of AI’s crew members hostage. The crew was allowed to go only after the airline gave them two cheques.
On June 23 at 8.30am, the cabin crew (CC) of AI’s London-Mumbai flight were picked up from their hotel by OSJ Transport Company.
“We thought that the coach was taking us to Heathrow airport. But the bus took us to the company’s transport yard, which was just five minutes away from the hotel,” said a crew member. “The company then called up our operations department and asked them to clear the pending dues,” she added.
Every day OSJ operates four ferry buses from Heathrow airport to the hotel where the AI crew is put up. They have been serving AI for the past two years and the company owes them £60,000 for the past three months.
27/06/11 Naveeta Singh/Daily News & Analysis

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AI flight grounded after bird-hit

Bhubaneswar: Passengers of Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Delhi Air India flight had a harrowing time as the plane was grounded after hitting a bird at Biju Patnaik Airport on Saturday.
An engine blade of the aircraft was affected by the bird-hit while it was approaching the runway. The pilot made a safe landing but the mishap grounded the flight for several hours.
The incident occurred at about 2.40 pm when the flight was on its way from Delhi to Bhubaneswar. While approaching the runway, it hit a bird.
Since the problem could not be sorted out by the airline ground staff, a team of engineers from Delhi rushed here at 7.40 pm, airport sources said. The team repaired four engine blades, which took several hours. The flight was ready for testing at about 11.30 pm. It was scheduled to return to Delhi at 2.30 am.
26/06/11 The New Indian Express

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Plane lands on closed runway

It was around 12.05 pm on Sunday. Some officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) were busy in the routine maintenance work on the main runway of the Kolkata airport.
They had to complete their work on an emergency basis as the Notam (notice to airmen) was issued regarding the closure of the main runway for only three hours, from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Suddenly, one of the maintenance staff spotted an aircraft preparing to land at the runway. Immediately, he informed other officials and they started waiving flags to catch the attention of the pilot. But all their efforts went in vain as the Thai Air Asia plane landed at the main runway at 12.07 pm.
“Thank God! The aircraft as well as the airport narrowly escaped a disastrous accident,” Gautam Mukherjee, executive director, eastern region, AAI, said in his first reaction to the incident when contacted over the phone. According to sources at the Kolkata airport, a Notam was issued for the routine maintenance of the main runway. During the Notam period, the main runway was totally closed for any air operation.
27/06/11 Deccan Chronicle

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Clean-up drive near Bhubaneswar airport

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation today launched a cleaning exercise near the Biju Patnaik Airport area beginning with a huge dumping site near a culvert on the natural drainage channel No. 8.
The place is 150 metres from the airport boundary. The dustbin in which the local fish and meat vendors used to dump wastes had been attracting carnivorous birds such as, kites.
The drive commenced with an excavator and a tipper of the corporation. The work continued from 9am to 10.30am and the workers also fished out the debris which had been blocking flow of the drain up to Pokhariput.
“Yesterday while scanning the area around the airport, we came across this place where we saw hordes of street dogs and birds. The cleaning drive was immediately ordered and the city health officer was asked to supervise it. Nearly two tonnes of garbage were collected,” said commissioner Vishal Kumar Dev.
The commissioner said the corporation market supervisors had been asked to warn the vendors against dumping waste at the site. Moreover, the chief engineer (roads) of the public works department (PWD) has been requested to construct a barricade at the place to prevent such dumping.
27/06/11 Bibhuti Barik/The Telegraph

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Satellite to operate GAGAN system in position: Official

New Delhi: The satellite to operate the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system that will offer seamless navigation to air traffic over the Indian Ocean and the Indian airspace, has been positioned.

"The initial phase is now over. The satellite is now in position," Airports Authority of India chairman VP Agarwal said here.

"We are now going through the certification stage of the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and we will have certification of the system by June 2013," he said at a recent workshop on aviation safety organised by the Aviation Watch journal.

Along with trials, GAGAN's certification process is being carried out with Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other bodies, with the AAI and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) developing it.

India will become the fourth in the world to adopt this system which would enhance the accuracy and integrity of GPS signals to meet precision approach requirements in the civil aviation, official sources said.

Others using similar technologies are the US, the European Union and Japan.

Once operational, GAGAN would provide augmented information for satellite navigation to aircraft flying over Indian airspace and routes over high seas with high level of accuracy, integrity and continuity during the entire flight operations - from take-off to landing, they said.

26/06/11 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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Bldg supervisors grilled on mystery laser beams

Chennai: Airport police have detained two supervisors of a hotel construction site at Guindy on the suspicion that they were flashing green laser beams at aircraft landing at the airport. They have seized a few laser pens from the supervisors. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) southern region office had recently filed a police complaint after a few pilots reported that green lights were being flashed at aircrafts approaching to land at the airport. The lights were distracting the pilots.

Following a tip-off that lasers lights were used at construction sites, suburban police searched several construction sites near the airport on Friday. "We detained two supervisors from a hotel construction site located behind the Dr MGR Tamil Nadu Medical University and questioned them," a senior police officer told The Times of India.

The police found that most of the employees used similar lights at the construction site. "They use the laser beam as a communication tool at the site. The laser beams are pointed at colleagues to call them over instead of using phones or walkie talkies," an official said.

The police said the laser pens that were seized from the construction employees could generate a light beam that can travel up to 1.5 km.

26/06/11 Times of India

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Logistics experts say Mihan logic doesn't work

Nagpur: Local industrialists may still be harping on Mihan, but logistics professionals do not seem to be in mood the buy the story. At the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) meeting on logistics in Nagpur, Mihan being touted as a catalyst for this sector drew ridicule from them.
Experts said the very idea of aircraft landing in Nagpur to redistribute cargo for the country and fly back was flawed. There are already three cargo hubs in the middle-east, leaving hardly any scope for another in Nagpur. They were of the view that Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) should have concentrated on bringing in manufacturing sector in the SEZ rather than invite IT industries that do not generate any physical cargo.
"As far as the special economic zone (SEZ) part is concerned, Mihan has all the infrastructure ready giving it an advantage over other areas. However, nobody is buying the cargo hub story," said Nirav Kothary of US-based real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang Lasalle that came up with a report on logistics sector in Nagpur along with the CII during the seminar.
Kothary explained that the theory of planes landing in Nagpur to redistribute cargo did not work. For that, some airline has to make Nagpur its hub and the government needs to push it. So far no airlines seems interested, he said. The gulf already has three hubs by Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar airlines, leaving little scope for Mihan. Nagpur is also not a major production or consumption centre to generate cargo. Moreover, the area hardly has throughput of high value, low volume cargo that is transported by air, he added.
25/06/11 Shishir Arya/Times of India

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70 acres of Mumbai airport land on sale soon

Mumbai: The agency that runs the Mumbai airport plans to make thousands of crores by selling off part of the land in pricey Andheri that had been given to it for improving facilities. The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) — that includes the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and a consortium led by infrastructure major GVK — plans to sell around 70 acres presently valued at around Rs5,000 crore. This land is part of the acreage allotted to MIAL for the airport modernisation project. The MIAL says this land is in excess of the project requirements.
According to a senior executive at GVK, MIAL is looking to sell 10-12 acres, which realtors value at between Rs700 crore and Rs800 crore, within the next one year.
The remaining 60 acres will be put on the block within the next three to four years, said Anil K Pandit, president, real estate at GVK.
"There are some permissions that we are seeking from the government and once that is done, we would sell the land in tranches. The land to be sold is apart from the one that has a slum on it," said Pandit, on the sidelines of the CII real estate conclave in Mumbai. Government approvals could come through within a year, said sources close to the development.
Company officials, however, did not respond to queries on the fate of the plot that has a slum on it.
25/06/11 Hindustan Times

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Shift the Bhubaneswar Airport in the best interest of the state

The Indian airports, which were located at one extreme end of the major cities of our country, are in the shifting mode. The air traffic has grown many folds with the growth in economy and the changed transport scenario. The latest examples are shifting of Hyderabad and Bengaluru to places away from the city limits. Chennai and Ahmedabad are now planning to shift their existing airports in the long term interest of their people.
Bhubaneswar, which has been made complacent with a bonsai airport so far, has moved a step closer to its dream of an international airport with the state government identifying over 2,000 acres of land, around 40 km south of the capital city, on National Highway 5 for it. As per reports published in a section of press, Khurda district administration has identified over 2,000 acres of government land near Jankia and Malipada villages. The survey work is going on. It is a welcome and statesmanlike landmark decision.
The land of around 20 villages, including Gayabandha, Malipada, Dalaka, Pota and Godipada, a large tract of cashew plantation belonging to the Orissa State Cashew Development Corporation, are being considered for the proposed international airport.
Khurda district administration sources say that the area has been considered for three main reasons. One, the government has a big patch of land available in the area. So the proposed airport would require minimum land acquisition and displacement. Secondly, the NH will provide good connectivity to the airport from the city. Thirdly, it will be a strategically located for Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban complex as well as Puri and Berhampur.
24/06/11 Janakish Badapanda/Orissadiary.com

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African student held with 4kg of morphine at airport

Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs on Thursday arrested a South African student carrying 4.4 kg morphine worth more than Rs 4 crore in the international market. Anohya Jessica was arrested from the international airport in the early morning. She was booked on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, for Addis Ababa.
The AIU officials stopped her and checked her suitcase. They officials found morphine tablets concealed in specially designed top and bottom of in the suitcase. Jessica was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Though morphine is medically used as pain reliever, it attracts the NDPS Act if used for any other purpose.
AIU officials said that Jessica had come to India 15 days ago on a tourist visa. On Wednesday night, she arrived in Mumbai from New Delhi in a domestic flight and headed to the international airport.
Upon interrogation, Customs officials found that she had got the morphine tablets from a New Delhi resident. However, officials have not revealed his identity, as he is yet to be arrested.
25/06/11 Hindustan Times

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Four Sri Lankan gold smugglers arrested in Chennai

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of India on Wednesday seized 1,867.5 grams of gold biscuits and jewellery worth Rs. 4. 2 million. Four Sri Lankans were arrested in this regard, according to The Hindu on-line report dated June 23.
C. Rajan, Additional Director General, DRI, Chennai, said the arrests followed specific information that Sri Lankans arrived in Chennai with smuggled gold from Colombo on their way to Thiruva-nanthapuram. From there they had come to Chennai by road and checked into a hotel in Mannady. The DRIofficials entered the room in which they were staying. They were identified as Mohammed Susan Akbar, Faseel Mohammed, Faisal Mohammed and Mohammed Fasran.
When the authorities conducted a search, they found a black coloured insulation wrapped packets kept concealed in socks of
Faisal Mohammed from where they seized six foreign marked gold biscuits weighing 600 grams.
24/06/11 The Island

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Jet Airways bid for Srinagar-Jeddah flight

Srinagar: There is some good news for the Hajj-2011 aspirants. Commercial airline, Jet Airways, has desired to operate midnight Hajj flights from the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport from September this year—something which the Airports Authority of India is all set to explore.
Highly placed sources disclosed to Greater Kashmir that the airline—which has reportedly got the contract for ferrying Hajj-2011 passengers from Jammu and Kashmir—has written a formal letter to the Srinagar-based AAI Director on the issue. The airline, according to the letter, has sought to operate midnight Hajj flights from Srinagar to New Delhi and from New Delhi to Jeddah from September 29 to December 10.
“It is a very positive development. It has been a demand of the people of Kashmir which the airline has desired to fulfil. Now it is for the AAI and other stakeholders to see how best they can help in ensuring the revival of the direct Hajj flights from Srinagar,” the sources said.
The development, being appreciated by the stakeholders, comes in the wake of series of reports filed by this newspaper on the demand for revival of direct Hajj flights. In the past year, the Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir complained of huge inconvenience due to indirect flights from Srinagar to Jeddah. The Saudi Arabia airline, which had got the contract last year, ferried the state-based passengers from New Delhi to Jeddah.
According to the sources, the AAI shall now hold extensive meetings with all the stakeholders to examine the Jet Airways’ proposal.
24/06/11 Greater Kashmir

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Shillong airport's new terminal opens on Saturday

Umroi: The new terminal building of the Shillong airport in Meghalaya will be inaugurated Saturday, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.
The terminal will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, Shillong Airport Controller V. Mohan told IANS. The airport, formerly known as Umroi airport, is about 35 km north of Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya.
Mohan said the new terminal, built at a cost of Rs 30 crore, is fitted with latest equipments like explosive trace detectors, baggage x-ray machines, and close-circuit cameras.
"It has been upgraded with six check-in counters, a complete security hold area, and separate blocks have been created for arrivals and departures, and a modern medical inspection room," the AAI official said.
Mohan said the expansion work of the airport has started with the construction of a perimeter wall. The work was earlier delayed due to land acquisition. "We have acquired 224.16 acres of land for expansion of the airport to facilitate landing of bigger aircrafts. The work has started flowing now," Mohan said. The new runway will be lengthened to 7,500 feet from the present runway of 6,000 feet and will be realigned with the existing runway.
23/06/11 IANS/Assam Tribune

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Biju Patnaik Airport work speeds up

Bhubaneswar: Construction work has gained pace at the new terminus building of Biju Patnaik Airport, which is set for a major expansion.
The two-storey 17,860 square metre terminus will have the capacity to handle 800 passengers, including arrival and departure.
The building’s plan has been made according to energy-saving green building concept. Computers will monitor energy efficiency of the new terminus building.
With four elevators and two escalators, it would ensure comfortable movement of passengers of all age groups. The new terminus would have a digitally controlled public address and car calling system, besides additional space for parking 10 luxury coach buses and 400 taxis.
According to airport’s director, V.N. Chandran, the project was estimated to cost Rs 150 crore. Of the two floors of the terminus building, the ground floor would be of 15,000 square metres, while the first floor would take up an area of 2,860 square metres.
Apart from the new terminus, the airport would have two aerobridges near the main taxi area near the runway for the use of passengers.
However, in the case of smaller planes and chartered services, the usual carting facility would be provided.
The ambitious project is being executed by Lanco Infratech Limited. Sources said the new road to Biju Patnaik Airport from Sachivalaya Marg would also be completed by June next year so that passengers who would use the new terminal could directly access the place.
24/06/11 The Telegraph

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Laser flash on pilots: Cops to seek expert help

Chennai: The airport police would be enlisting the help of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, to probe the nature and source of the mysterious “green laser beams” that were flashed at the captains of three aircraft as they were about to land at Meenambakkam recently.
Sources said, three Jet Airways flights from Mumbai, Madurai and Brussels landed at the airport between 11.39 pm and 11.45 pm on June 14. As the planes were approaching the runway at a height of about 1,500 feet, the captains of all the three aircraft saw a “green laser beam” flashed at them from their left side.
After landing, the three captains, all foreign nationals, lodged a plaint with the ATC authorities here. A letter was then sent to the DGP on? whose directive, suburban CoP Karan Singha ordered the airport cops to probe the matter, said sources. However, a? senior police official rued the fact that the complaint was received only two days after the incident.
23/06/11 New Indian Express/IBN Live

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AAI to develop world class airport at Jharsuguda; new terminal at Bhubaneswar Air Port

Bhubaneswar: The State Government on Wednesday decided to provide 191 acres of land to the Air Port Authority of India (AAI) to set up a second world-class airport in the State at Jharsuguda and another 20 acres for continuing its expansion programme along with the passenger amenity facility at the Bhubaneswar Biju Patnaik Air Port.
Chief Secretary Bijay Panaik took up a review meeting on the progress of the Jharsuguda airport and the ongoing expansion work at the Bhubaneswar airport. Chief Secretary has assured the AAI authorities to provide the required land within very short span of time to help start the initial work including construction of the 6000 feet of the targeted 9000 feet run way to start commercial flight. The AAI authorities have assured that upgradation of the Jharsuguda air port will be completed within two years after receipt of the required land.
23/06/11 OrrisaDiary.com

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Boeing 747-8 to land at SGRDJ airport

Amritsar: Despite an annual loss to the tune of Rs 20 crore, Sri Guru Ram Das Ji (SGRDJ) International Airport is being prepared as an alternate airport to Delhi for landing of Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The British Midland Airways Ltd, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Airlines is also going to begin its operations to London via Atmaty from October 13.
Earlier, Jet Airways and Singapore Airlines had closed their operations from Amritsar on December 2008 and February 2009 owing to various reasons.
While addressing the media, BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, blamed the Punjab National Bank (PNB) authorities for not developing the software needed for the electronic data interchange facility. He is also one of the members of five member committee constituted by the aviation ministry for the development of Amritsar's international airport. PNB is creating obstacles than facilitating the trade, blamed Sidhu.
23/06/11 Times of India

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Hubli airport bags Best Fire Station Award

Hubli: Hubli airport has bagged the Best Fire Station Award among the group C airports of southern region. The award, instituted by Airports' Authority of India (AAI), was presented at a function on the airport premises here on Thursday.
Speaking after awarding the trophy, regional executive director D Devaraj said they have done it with the available infrastructure. He further said the airport is set for expansion and development, which includes the construction of a new terminal building and runaway extension. The existing terminal building will be expanded to cater to the demands of the travelling public. Accordingly, a canopy in front of the terminal building will be provided, and an ancillary building to accommodate administrative offices will be built.
23/06/11 Times of India

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Sick passenger forces landing

Lucknow: A SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing at Amausi airport here on Thursday morning after a passenger on board complained of poisoning. Sumit Rajak, was rushed to a private hospital in Alambagh where his condition was said to be stable. According to reports, the crew of Kolkatta-Delhi spice jet flight number 604 alerted the staff at the Amausi airport about a medical emergency on board. "We received a call from the pilot of the flight about a medical emergency in the flight. As soon as the flight landed, we rushed the passenger to the hospital," said Atul Dixit director of the airport. Consequently the airport staff swung into action and kept a medical team ready.
The team examined Sumit and ruled out the possibility of poisoning. Giving primary treatment, they rushed him to the hospital.
24/06/11 Times of India

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Man held at IGI with fake entry pass

New Delhi: A man was held at the IGI Airport on Wednesday for attempting to enter the terminal building on a fake airport entry permit. The accused was later found to have been duped by two men claiming to be employees of Air India. They promised him a job for Rs 2 lakh and supplied him with the entry pass. Police is now investigating the role of the AI employees in a fake job racket.
Airport sources said that the accused, Ankit Bhutani, was stopped at the canteen gate of terminal 1 at 1.15pm by CISF's ASI Shatrughan Ram. The 28-year-old was carrying an airport entry pass with the number N01004582d. "Officials on duty realized the pass was fake and immediately held Bhutani for further questioning. He revealed that he had been offered a job as a supervisor in Air India and Wednesday was his joining day. Bhutani said two men, Aditya Bharadwaj and Neeraj Sharma who claimed to be AI employees, had given him the pass and uniform and told him to report at terminal 1 for further instructions. Bharadwaj had collected Rs 2 lakh from Bhutani for the job," said a CISF official.
24/06/11 Times of India

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Stray animal menace returns at Nagpur airport

Nagpur: Is a major mishap waiting to happen at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport? As the old menace of animals straying on to the runway has returned, this is the question on everyone's lips.

Recent incidents are an indicator of the recurring problem. Two wild boars were crushed under the wheels of Air India Mumbai-Nagpur-Mumbai flight with almost 145 passengers on-board on Wednesday night. A barking deer was hit by a JetLite Nagpur-Mumbai flight with almost 100 passengers on board on May 15. And a stray dog was seen roaming freely during a recent flight operation.

Sources said two years after airport officials claimed to have caught and relocated all wild animals, two barking deer, a group of wild boars, pigs and stray dogs have been spotted roaming near the operational area recently. The eight high-tech 'zon guns' (an LPG cylinder-operated device with a rotating barrel which booms roughly every 30-40 seconds to scare the animals away) are not functioning properly due to lack of maintenance, they said.

Abadesh Prasad, chief operating officer of Mihan India Private Limited which runs the airport, confirmed that wild animals, especially two barking deer and wild boars, are still roaming in the airport area.

23/06/11 Sachin Dravekar/Times of India

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Aviation experts advise reducing decibel levels at airports

With growing protests over noise pollution caused by flights, aviation experts today suggested that airport regulator AERA should insist on measures by airport operators to reduce the decibel levels to tolerable limits.

"The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) should see that airport operators insulate noise emanating from airports", Ajay Kumar, an aviation specialist of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said here.

He said the American government enacted large number of legislative controls to check noise pollution since 1960s.

The laws ensured that while better operating procedures were in place, a whole range of aviation activities carried out by aircraft designers, plane and engine manufacturers and operators adhere to rules to reduce decibel levels.

Addressing a workshop on aviation environment and noise pollution organised by the Aeronautical Society of India, Kumar and other experts spoke about regulations put in place by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and measures undertaken by airport and airline operators.

22/06/11 PTI/Moneycontrol.com

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NEC comes up with civil aviation 'blue print' for North East

Kolkata/ Guwahati: The North Eastern Council (NEC), the nodal agency for socio-economic development of the North-Eastern states, has come up with a “blue print” for civil aviation “strategy” in North-East.

Addressing the 60th plenary meeting of the Council, its chairman and minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), BK Handique, said “the blue print” of a new civil aviation strategy for North-East has been submitted to the civil aviation ministry.

“My basic thrust is to concentrate to make operational all 22 airports in the area having appropriate capacity aircrafts and have trained manpower for all branches of aviation,” Hnadique added.

He said as per the blue print, Guwahati airport will be made a hub by setting up of hangars. He also said that a civil aviation training institute for North-Eastern region will come up at Lilabari airport in the north bank.

Presently, upgradation and operationalisation of airport at Tezu, in Arunachal Pradesh, is underway at a total cost of Rs.79 crore and Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, is already in an agreement with NEC since 2002 for operating air service in the region.

The centre has already planned about 12 new airports, in addition to the existing 11, in the region to improve air connectivity.

23/06/11 Business Standard

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AAI to get 702 acres to develop Tirupati airport

Chennai/ Hyderabad: The state government today issued orders to hand over 702 acres of land, abutting the existing airport at Tirupati, for free to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This would be used for upgrading the facility into an international airport with modern amenities.

The AAI board has already accorded approval to undertake Phase 1 development of the airport to facilitate international operations to this temple town.

A new integrated terminal building complex with all modern amenities and facilities, including two aero bridges capable of handling 700 domestic and international passengers, will be built in the first phase. In addition, the authority proposes to extend the runway to 3,270 metre from the present 2,286 metre. AAI would be spending an estimated Rs 300 crore on all these works, which are expected to be taken up simultaneously immediately after getting the land.

The state government has also sanctioned Rs 100 crore to the district administration towards acquisition of the said land.

22/06/11 Ajay SuraTimes of India

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Shillong airport's new terminal to open on Saturday

Umroi: The new terminal building of the Shillong airport in Meghalaya will be inaugurated Saturday, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

The terminal will be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Vayallar Ravi , said Shillong Airport Controller V. Mohan.

The airport, formerly known as Umroi airport, is about 35 km north of Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya.

Mohan said the new terminal, built at a cost of Rs.30 crore, is fitted with latest equipments like explosive trace detectors, baggage x-ray machines, and close-circuit cameras.

"It has been upgraded with six check-in counters, a complete security hold area, and separate blocks have been created for arrivals and departures, and a modern medical inspection room," the AAI official said.

Mohan said the expansion work of the airport has started with the construction of a perimeter wall. The work was earlier delayed due to land acquisition.

"We have acquired 224.16 acres of land for expansion of the airport to facilitate landing of bigger aircrafts. The work has started flowing now," Mohan said.

22/06/11 IANS/Economic Times

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Airline staffers fear being 'grounded' over cost cuts

Ahmedabad: More than 200 ground staff members of different airlines at the Ahmedabad airport are having sleepless nights over flights being delayed, contracts being cancelled and liquidity crunch.

Air India (AI) has already delayed its May salary by 15 days because of a cash crunch. The 100-odd Air India employees at the city airport and its booking office at Khanpur have not got their salaries, meant to be released on June 7.

AI chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav wrote to employees across the country last week assuring them that salaries would be made soon. He, however, did not specify a date. "The email said he was sorry about the delay and assured us that the government would help in making the payments," an AI official said. A senior official in Delhi said salaries would be paid by the end of June.

23/06/11 Times of India

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Airport Metro to get a new timetable: 4 am to midnight

New Delhi: The Airport Metro Express Link will run for two extra hours daily starting July-end. The operators of Airport Metro have decided to extend the timings from the current 18 hours to 20 hours of service.

The facility will now be available between 4 am and midnight.

Sources said that with the increase in operation hours, the timing for check-in facility at the Airport Metro stations will also be increased. The three airlines — Air India, Kingfisher and Jet Airways — have their check-in counters at the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium stations.

“We are in the process of working out the extended timeframe. We are already at par with international standards by running the service for 18 hours daily. We will soon increase the timings to 20 hours a day. It will be highly beneficial for early morning and late night commuters,” a Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson said.

23/06/11 Sweta Dutta/Indian Express

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Upcoming airports focus on greener buildings

New Delhi: India’s upcoming airports are focusing on energy-efficient buildings, high-performance air conditioning, rainwater harvesting, waste-water treatment, and optimal reuse of treated water to align themselves with environment-friendly development.
Such measures are also being implemented at the Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports that are being upgraded.
New Delhi airport’s Terminal 3, or T3, the centrepiece of its $3 billion (Rs. 13,500 crore) modernization plan that was completed last year, was designed as per the Indian Green Building Council’s (IGBC) rating system, which includes a high level of green cover with 35 acres of landscaping outside the airport building and 4,000 sq. m inside it.
IGBC defines a green building as one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste ,and provides healthier spaces for occupants than a conventional building.
Rainwater harvesting and the use of natural light and power-saving CFL bulbs are basic elements for achieving the green building objective.
At T3, daylight is a primary focus of its design. It uses sensors to monitor the quality and quantity of air, recycled water for flushing, and less-polluting electric vehicles or those that run on compressed natural gas.
An official of the Delhi International Airport Ltd, or DIAL, who was involved in the environment aspects of the new terminal, on condition of anonymity said that although green buildings are more expensive to construct than regular buildings, the additional money spent can be recovered in three-four years of operations.
The Chennai and Kolkata airports are being upgraded keeping in mind the certification requirements of a green building, said V.P. Agarwal, chairman of the Airports Authority of India.
21/06/11 Jacob P. Koshy & Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

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Flights delayed as TIA runway in need of repair

Kathmandu: Flights at the country’s only international airport were disrupted for more than three hours today after a section of its runway wore out due to heavy rains.
Several flights were delayed while at least three flights were diverted. According to airport authorities, potholes in a section of 3,050-m stretch of the runway were spotted.
“Maintenance work was carried out last year. We understand there was some fault on the part of workers who had fixed the runway in the night,” said Dhruba Das Bhochhibhoya, Director, Tribhuvan International Airport Improvement Project. “We cannot overlay the affected area unless the rainy season ends.” But today’s was not the first instance of flight disruption due to runway repair at TIA. Since the onset of monsoon, the airport has already suffered the problem thrice. But Bhochhibhoya pledged to do the needful to fix the problem. While Qatar Airways and Jet Airways flights were diverted to Amausi International Airport, Lucknow, a China Eastern Airlines flight, which was forced to circle over Kathmandu sky for some time, was rerouted to Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, at around 8 am. Air India, SpiceJet, Jet Airways planes that were arriving in Kathmandu made a delayed landing.
22/06/11 The Himalayan

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American Airlines jet makes emergency landing in India

New Delhi: An American Airlines jetliner carrying 231 passengers has made an emergency landing at New Delhi's international airport, but no one was injured.
Richa, an American Airlines official, says the aircraft returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport about 20 minutes after taking off for Chicago at midnight Monday.
Richa says the pilot complained that the plane was having technical difficulties. The aircraft dumped the fuel it was carrying before landing.
21/06/11 Economic Times

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Cathay Pacific launches freighter services from Chennai to Frankfurt

Chennai: Cathay Pacific Airways launched direct freighter services between Chennai and Frankfurt- the international centre for commerce, finance & transport. The bi-weekly service will operate on Wednesdays & Thursdays, in addition to the 4 freighter services Cathay Pacific currently operates from Chennai to Hong Kong. These freighters will continue onwards to Manchester on Wednesday and Brussels on Thursday, making Cathay Pacific Cargo online to three European destinations from South India.
Tom Wright, General Manager – India, Middle East, Africa & Pakistan said: “India is shining -a growing economic super-power and has always been a big focus for Cathay Pacific Cargo. We have grown in the country over the last few years and today we are the biggest freighter operator in India. Ever since we launched freighter services from Chennai to Hong Kong in 2006, the route has always performed well. With South India becoming the industrial hub of the country we are thrilled to commence freighter services from Chennai to Frankfurt.”
20/06/11 afaqs.com

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Lufthansa Group airline to start India operations

Mumbai: Opening a new route, the British Midland International (bmi), a group airline of the German carrier Lufthansa , will start its India operations from the city of Amritsar in Punjab to London Heathrow. The airline will start this route from October this year, a statement from the company said.
The airline will operate three times a week and is offering promotional fares of Rs 39,428 for a return ticket on its economy seats. The airline will operate to Terminal One at Heathrow. British Midland International will use an airbus A330 type aircraft with 36 business class seats and 196 economy seats. The flights are scheduled to operate on Tuesday,.
21/06/11 Manisha Singhal/Economic Times

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Flyer held for smuggling rare metal worth 20 L

Mumbai: Customs officials at the city airport on Monday night arrested a passenger for carrying iridium, a rare expensive metal. The passenger, Mohammed Shoaib, was carrying 1 kg of iridium , which is used by jewellers to enhance the weight of gold and platinum ornaments to dupe customers . The metal was worth Rs 20 lakh .
Customs officials at the airport said that Shoaib landed at Mumbai airport from Hong Kong by a Kingfisher flight late on Monday. While he was trying to pass through the green channel, Customs officials stopped him for interrogation. "He was stopped on suspicion and his bags were checked. When questioned, he admitted that he was trying to smuggle the metal into the country,'' said a senior customs official.
22/06/11 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Passengers miffed as rlys counter at IGIA shuts down

New Delhi: The ease of booking a railway ticket right after landing at the Delhi airport doesn't exist any longer. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has disconnected the electricity supply to Indian Railways counter located near Terminal 2 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The railways counter at the airport has been shut since May 27, the day the power connection was snapped.
Thousands of air travellers and people working at Delhi airport have been affected with this move. Passengers coming from international destinations had a special quota if they travelled by Indian Railways, but not anymore.
An Indian Railways spokesperson said they have taken up the matter with the higher authority but felt DIAL was not interested in providing them the facility. "They don't want our counter as they have given the contract to a private company, which has its counter in Terminal 3. They simply give e-tickets," said a railways officer, who didn't wish to be named.
However, DIAL sources said railways hasn't paid its rent and electricity bill from the past four years. "We sent them several reminders to clear the dues but Indian Railways never replied," said the source. A railways spokesperson, on the other hand, said they are ready to pay, but DIAL is not cooperating.
21/06/11 Faizan Haider/Hindustan Times

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Two more flight services to Tuticorin

Tuticorin: Two additional flight services are expected to be operated between Tuticorin and Chennai from October. The daily flights were likely to be operated by low-cost carrier SpiceJet daily — one in the morning and another in the evening, said J.P. Joe Villavarayar, former president, All India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, here on Monday.
Since Kingfisher Red had been operating the only flight service between these two places, the additional flight services would greatly benefit businessmen, industrialists, tourists and the general public, he said. A SpiceJet team visited the Tuticorin airport to take stock of facilities available ahead of launching its services by operating a 60-seater aircraft.
21/06/11 The Hindu

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Experts to debate noise pollution near airports

New Delhi: The problem of noise pollution faced by people living near airports and steps to contain it will be debated by experts at a conference here.
Experts and aircraft and engine manufacturers will share views and recommend adoption of world's best practices at Indian airports for the benefit of the community residing near airports, DGCA deputy director general Lalit Gupta said here.
The issue assumes significance as residents of some South Delhi localities, as well as Jawaharlal Nehru University, went to court seeking steps to check noise pollution from aircraft landing at and taking off from the IGI Airport here.
Organised by the Aeronautical Society of India, the International Workshop on Aviation Environment – Community Noise and Solutions, will be inaugurated on Wednesday by Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi, Gupta said.
Experts would give their views on noise mitigation measures and the technological advancements to improve the acoustic environment around airports, another expert Debashis Saha, who along with Gupta are office-bearers of the Aeronautical Society, said.
20/06/11 ZeeNews.com

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Kochi airport to get waterway connectivity

Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Ltd is likely to be the first airport in the country to get direct waterway connectivity to a major seaport if the announcement made by the State Water Resources Minister to commence work in this regard is any indication.
The Minister, Mr P.J. Joseph, while speaking at a function at the Cochin International Airport Ltd, said work on the proposed project, expected to involve an investment of Rs 50 crore, would commence in the 100-day action plan of the Government to connect the airport with the High Court jetty through the waterways. This would enable an air passenger to travel by boat to the city thereby saving time and money.
The CIAL also expressed its willingness to participate in the venture and has offered to invest Rs 3 crore, he said, and expressed the hope that the project can be completed within 18 months.
Company officials said the announcement, which is a long pending proposal, will give a major fillip to the proposal of the airport company in its efforts to set up a cargo village in the area.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India survey in this regard has divided the 49.5 km-long waterway into three stretches — from the Seaport to Eloor, from Eloor to Kanjoor, and from Kanjoor to the airport.
While the first stretch of 23 km is already a part of the National Waterway-3 and will require no improvement, some upgradation works including river bank protection, deepening of shallow portions and installation of concrete guide posts will have to be carried out to develop the second stretch of 26 km through the River Periyar.
20/06/11 Business Line

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Amrtitsar Airport makeover Can't Curb Losses

Amritsar: The glossy look of the Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport and its impressive infrastructure notwithstanding, the airport is suffering huge losses on account of discontinuation of flights by various airline companies in recent years.
The airport is suffering annual losses pegged at around Rs 20 crore with the number of international passengers drastically going down.
Since the withdrawal of Singapore Airlines and suspension of the Jet Airways Amritsar-London flight in 2008, many airline companies, including Trans Aero, Mahan Airways, Go Air and Air India (AmritsarSharjah), have stopped, suspended or diverted their operations from the international airport.
Apart from bringing losses to the airport, the suspension of flights is causing inconvenience to many passengers who now have to go all the way to Delhi to board flights.
With not half as many flights as they had expected, the airport authorities are losing out on landing charges and passenger user fee.
The government had spent crores on giving the airport a new look and adding more facilities.
Concerned over the losses, the airport authorities are making personal efforts to rope in airline firms. Talking to HT, airport director Suneel Dutt said, “Certainly, the suspension of operations by some airline companies is a cause for concern.
But we have been very committed to improving the facilities at the airport. Today we have a runway that can handle all kinds of aircraft and a new terminal building with all modern facilities. Much more is in the pipeline.“
19/06/11 Global Sikh News

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Singapore Airlines and SilkAir offers special fares starting at Rs 25,000 for passengers travelling to USA

Kolkata: Singapore Airlines and SilkAir offers passengers an opportunity to visit A380 destinations like Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and USA at incredibly low prices starting from an all-inclusive fare of Rs 25,000 onwards from across 10 Indian cities. Passengers travelling on the USA route can also avail of exciting offers while in transit at Singapore Changi International Airport .
In a mediastatement issued on Monday, the airline said special economy class return airfares will be available in India for departures from 10 Singapore Airlines and SilkAir gateway cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum and Coimbatore. These deals are already available from June 15 and will be available till July 8 with travel validity from June 15 - October 31, 2011.
20/06/11 Anuradha Himatsingka/Economic Times

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Siemens to better cargo handling at Delhi airport

New Delhi: Delhi Cargo Services Center (DCSC) has signed up Siemens Ltd to set up a state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment for the integrated cargo complex at the Delhi International Airport.
“The contract is worth Rs 165 crore, which is till date India’s largest cargo handling system contract, and Siemens will also maintain the system initially for a period of two years,” said a release from the company.
DCSC is a special-purpose vehicle formed between Delhi International Airport Ltd and Cargo Service Center India Ltd.
Siemens Ltd, in which Siemens AG holds 75 per cent of the capital, is the flagship listed company of Siemens AG in India. In India, Siemens is a leading provider of industry and infrastructure solutions with a business volume aggregating about Rs 12,000 crore and operates in the core business areas of Industry, Energy and Healthcare.
Siemens will outfit the main terminal with air cargo handling solution (MHS), which will include automatic storage and retrieval system, cargo workstation, pallet and container storage and handling system, all managed and controlled by high-level IT systems.
21/06/11 Business Standard

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Kolkata second runway ready for night ops, traffic load to ease

Kolkata: The secondary runway at Kolkata airport that was operational only during the daytime is finally equipped to handle flights round the clock, marking the completion of a long-pending project to install an instrument landing system (ILS) on the runway. Without ILS, the runway cannot be used at night or in poor weather when visibility drops below 1,300 metre.
However, it will take three more months for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to approve ILS operations on the secondary runway. "The flight path calibration has been done. Pilots have to now check out the Instrument Aided Landing (IAL) procedure. Thereafter, DGCA will carry out a final inspection. The entire process should be over by mid-September, allowing operations at night before the Pujas," said Airports Authority of India (AAI) executive director Gautam Mukherjee.
Once the secondary runway is ILS-enabled, flights can operate at night as well as till visibility drops below 800 metre. Comprising a localizer that provides information on horizontal deviation from the runway and glide-path that gives data on vertical deviation of the aircraft from the glide angle for landing, it electronically guides planes to enable a perfect touchdown. This reduces human error as the pilot does not have to depend on visual landing alone.
The project, conceived over five years ago and scheduled to be completed by 2008, encountered a spate of delays following extension of the runway from 2,800 to 3,200 metre. On a couple of occasions, landings and takeoffs had to be suspended at night because the primary runway was under maintenance and the secondary runway was not equipped to handle night operations.
20/06/11 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India

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Key airports to get advanced traffic managment system

Paris: India's air traffic management system is all set for an overhaul with the implementation of the next-generation Auto Trac (AT) III system at Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai airports. Developed by US defence major Raytheon, AT III is a surveillance and safety air traffic system which helps prevent flight delays by providing meteorological information apart from improving overall safety.
The system carries real-time meteorological information for air traffic controllers to help them adjust to changing weather conditions. Ahead of the Paris Air Show here, senior Raytheon executives told TOI that the system is already operational in Delhi, even while awaiting formal clearance from AAI and DGCA, while trial runs are on in Mumbai and Chennai. AT III also comes equipped with a medium-term conflict detection system which can determine what's going to happen in an aircraft's flight path for the next 60 minutes and prevent collision.
The new surveillance and safety data processing system is likely to improve air traffic controllers' productivity by allowing them to handle more traffic. It will also help in predicting the exact time of landing for aircraft.
20/06/11 Sachin Parashar/Times of India

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AAI survey finds new surge in encroachments at Juhu airport

Mumbai: A digital survey by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has found that encroachment on Juhu airport land has increased significantly over the last few months.
“Ahead of the monsoons, around four rows of hutments have cropped up,” said an airport official. These hutments will not be removed for at least the next three months as the civic body does not conduct slum demolitions during monsoon.
In 2008, the area under encroachment in the Juhu aerodrome was around 29 acres. Now, preliminary calculations indicate that it could be as high as 41 acres. However, AAI officials said they would be able to arrive at a more accurate figure only after the survey is completed in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, BMC officials have conducted an inspection of the airport premises and asked the AAI to submit a plan for storm water drainage within the aerodrome. The AAI has tied up with IIT-Bombay to come up with a storm water drainage network to ensure that low-lying areas are not flooded during the monsoon. “The survey is actually being conducted for the storm water drainage network, but we will also get the figures for encroachment,” an AAI official said.
20/06/11 Indian Express

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Still a long route to get your money back

New Delhi: If you have taken a flight out of Delhi this month after booking the ticket in May, you are entitled to a partial refund. But getting your money back won’t be easy. The Delhi high court ordered the private airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) on June 1 to stop collecting the airport development fee (ADF) of R200 from domestic passengers and Rs1,300 from international passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation then asked airlines to refund passengers who had already paid the fee in advance bookings.
Every day, some 35,000 domestic and 17,000 international passengers fly out of Delhi. That adds up to about Rs3 crore a day as ADF for DIAL.
None of the airlines has, however, informed passengers they are supposed to get the ADF back. Passengers who are aware of this are not finding it easy to get the refund as state-owned Air India seems to be the only carrier that has put a refunding system in place.
“Those passengers who have booked tickets from our counters can collect the refund from any of our counters and others can collect it from their travel agents,” said an Air India spokesperson. “The amount will reach directly the accounts of those passengers who had booked tickets online.”
Private carriers, including Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet, couldn’t clarify how they are refunding passengers. A GoAir spokesperson said the money would be paid to Airports Authority of India.
20/06/11 Sidhartha Roy/Hindustan Times

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Air shuttle service to connect coastal airports

Nedumbassery: Top priority will be given to launch an air shuttle service connecting the coastal airports in South India, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Vayalar Ravi has said.
The Minister was inaugurating the regional celebrations of the Centenary of Civil Aviation in India at the Kochi International Airport here.
Stating that the Civil Aviation Ministry is planning to improve air connectivity and helicopter service in India, Ravi said steps have already been taken to have a route map for helicopter services.
Stressing that more airports would be launched if sufficient land is provided, the Minister promised that he was committed to extending all support to the construction of the Kannur airport.
On Air India, he said the airlines was passing through a turbulent period with heavy debts. Huge arrears to oil companies have disrupted the fuel supply, he said.
The Minister said that the ministry was committed to financially enabling Air India to come out of the red.
Urgent steps should be introduced to improve the quality of management, planning and cost-cutting measures in Air India, he said.
He urged the employees to cooperate to improve the national carrier.
Presiding over the function, Minister for Ports and Airports K Babu said that the state government was committed to improving the coastal and inter-district air connectivity.
19/06/11 The New Indian Express/IBN Live

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Plan for new airport for Bhubaneswar takes wings

Bhubaneswar: The city has moved a step closer to its dream of an international airport with the state government identifying over 2,000 acres of land, around 40 km south of the capital, on National Highway 5 for it. "We have identified over 2,000 acre near Jankia and Malipada villages. The survey work is on," Khurda collector Hrusikesh Tripathy said.
Sources said land of around 20 villages, including Gayabandha, Malipada, Dalaka, Pota and Godipada, a large tract of cashew plantation belonging to the Orissa State Cashew Development Corporation, are being considered for the proposed international airport.
Official sources said the area was considered for three main reasons. One, the government has a big patch of land available in the area. So the proposed airport would require minimum land acquisition and displacement. Secondly, the NH will provide good connectivity to the airport from the city. Thirdly, it will be a strategically located for Cuttack-Bhubaneswar urban complex as well as Puri and Berhampur.
The airport would be close to the proposed South City being developed by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority. BDA has taken up development of a modern integrated township over 1208.39 acre in the south-west corridor of the city.
18/06/11 Ashok Pradhan/Times of India

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Study to make Patna airport safe begins

Patna: Jayaprakash Narayan International airport may soon cast off its "one of the most critical airports in the country" tag. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is exploring all possibilities for the purpose.
The feasibility of AAI's ambitious idea to tunnel-in the railway line adjacent to airport's runway, which poses critical threat to safe landing of aircrafts here as there is no room for emergency and even minor errors could cause the plane to ram into a train, is being explored.
Of late, a comprehensive study to create additional runway space for JPNI airport, spread over 260.81 acres, with a runway length of 7,500 feet, has already begun.
The main purpose of the study, which will be completed within three months, is to suggest ways to remove obstacles from the aircrafts' approach funnel. AAI has assigned the job to an infrastructure consultancy company, RITES Ltd, at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Experts have expeditiously begun the survey at Phulwari Sharif railway station.
Due to obstacles like trees and a 184-feet Secretariat tower on the eastern side of the airport and railway premises on the northwestern side, aircrafts are not able to use full length of the runway. Therefore, removal of obstacles is critical for rendering the airport safe.
While landing from eastern side, planes manage to use approximately about 5,600 feet runway length (runway 25), while they are able to use about 5,500 feet runway during landing from western side (runway 07).
18/06/11 Times of India

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Chennai airport turns hub for illegal migrants to Malaysia

Chennai: When Malaysia is considering its largest-ever programme to legalise immigrants without papers, Chennai airport is seeing a steady increase of illegal migration.
The last of such incident came to light in the wee hours of Friday when the airport police arrested two men on trying to check into a flight to Malaysia using fake tickets. Chennai airport police inspector D Arockia Raveendran said the two passengers were cheated by an agent called Velmurugan in Singapore, who offered them a job there.
The men from Tiruchi and Vellore were desperately searching for a job in Malaysia. Marimuthu, who works as an electrician, and Udayakumar, a daily wage labourer, had paid Rs 10,000 to Velmurugan for the tickets. "They said Velmurugan's father collected the money and gave them print-outs of tickets sent from Malaysia. They were arrested after the airline officials found the tickets to be fake," said Raveendran.
The inspector said Chennai airport, said to be one of the safest gateways for illegal migrants in the country, has tightened immigration rules in the last two years, but such cases keep happening. "We come to know of the sad stories of labourers only when we arrest passengers for smuggling drugs and such banned materials," said a senior immigration official at Chennai airport.
18/06/11 Arun Janardhanan/Times of India

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Delays may cost airlines flight slots

Mumbai: Delays are all set to cost airlines dear. The civil aviation ministry is likely to withdraw some existing take-off and landing slots from domestic airlines during the winter schedule from October 2011 to March 2012 owing to poor punctuality record. The ministry’s records show that 216 flights taking off and landing in Mumbai have been frequently delayed (delayed 20% of the instances they were operated in the past two months).
From April this year, acting on the ministry’s directive, the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has been drawing up a list of flights that were frequently delayed.
The move was aimed at exposing errant airlines and alerting passengers about flights to be avoided. “Denial of existing slots is being considered to punish airlines with a poor punctuality record. The final list of airlines likely to lose slots would be drawn up on the basis of the airlines’ on-time performance from April to September,” said a civil aviation ministry official, requesting anonymity.
The official added that delays owing to poor visibility during the monsoon would not be considered. The fear of losing slots could force airlines to improve their performance. “Losing slots would instantly reflect in the airline’s revenues. The ministry’s move is likely to bring in discipline in flight movement,” said a senior executive with an aviation consultancy firm requesting anonymity.
19/06/11 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times

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DGCA to probe ‘mystery’ laser at Chennai airport

Chennai: The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the mysterious laser beams that pilots have reported appear to be tracking their aircraft while they land at Chennai airport.
On June 14, a few pilots informed the air traffic control about blinding laser beams being trained on their aircraft while landing at the airport.
When contacted, DGCA’s air safety director Bir Singh Rai told DC that DGCA has taken note of the incidents and has started investigations. “We have also instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to look into the matter,” he added.
“It could even be a mistake on the part of the pilots but we will not leave anything to chance,” AAI southern region executive director D. Devraj said.
“We have lodged a complaint with the director-general of police, Chennai as the incident happened beyond the airport jurisdiction,” he added.
According to him, the stray lights were noticed near the coastal area. “We doubt that it could have emancipated from the Adyar side. though we deliberated about some marriage functions and such events, we doubt whether the lights could reach the plane’s height,” he added.
However, top police officers in the city said they were unaware of the laser beams.
19/06/11 S. Sujatha/Deccan Chronicle

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Night landing at Chandigarh airport: AAI seeks Centre's nod

Chandigarh: Failing to get any favourable response from the Indian Air Force authorities in allowing night landing or extending watch hours, Airport Authority of India (AAI) has finally sought central ministry level intervention on the issue.
IAF operates the Air Traffic Control as well as the airstrip and its denial of permission has been causing problems. The international flight from Chandigarh to Dubai, which was to start in July 2009 was cancelled because night landing was not allowed.
At present, civilian aircraft are permitted to land at the local airport before 8pm only.
Director of Chandigarh airport, Captain HS Toor, said the restriction was proving troublesome.
''I have talked to higher authorities and they would discuss the matter with defence ministry. It is expected that the matter would be sorted out and international flights would begin,'' he added.
An IAF spokesperson said that many issues needed to be handled before taking this step and the decision of allowing night landing of civilian aircraft was for Western Air Command or defence ministry to make. Once started, the facility can be a boon for AAI and international passengers from the city. At present, any civilian aircraft trying to land here after 8pm is asked to return to the airport from where it took off and this inconveniences passengers.
18/06/11 Times of India

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Prospects of evening flights bright, says Soz

Srinagar: Pradesh Congress Committee president, Saifuddin Soz Saturday said that chances of evening flights to and fro Srinagar Airport have brightened after his consistent efforts at pursuing the issue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“I’ve been inviting the attention of the Minister of Civil Aviation rather vigorously for provision of this facility since January 2011. I invited attention of Minister Civil Aviation Valiyar Ravi to my memorandum to the Minister Dated 25th January 2011 and March 9, 2011 wherein I had emphasized the fact that It was now possible for the Air India to operate evening flights to and from Srinagar,” Soz said in a statement.
18/06/11 Kashmir Dispatch

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