Air Force to set up enclaves at Kochi, Kannur airports

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has sought land at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Nedumbassery, and at the site of the proposed airport at Kannur as part of developing Air Force facilities on the lines of the one at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, Air Officer Commanding-in- Chief of Southern Air Command (SAC) Air Marshal S C Mukul said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here in connection with the silver jubilee celebrations of the SAC, Mukul said that the IAF has placed its request with the State Government in this regard.
"We're going ahead with the `enclave philosophy.- These small enclaves (attached to commercial airports) will extend our reach with minimum cost for the IAF," he said.
The enclaves are basically intended to aid the IAF in faster mobilisation of its assets in the southern peninsula. The enclaves will have, apart from the tarmac area, basic infrastructure for housing ground equipment and the like, Mukul said. The Karipur airport is also in the IAF's scanner, but Kannur facilitates easier access to the Lakshadweep Islands which fall under the jurisdiction of the SAC, Mukul said.
Infrastructure-wise, the IAF's plans for its Sulur and Tanjore facilities will be completed by 2012- 2016. Sulur will base a full-fledged Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) squadron, while Tanjore will base Medium Lift Helicopters and Transport Aircraft.
16/07/08 Newindpress

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Categories: Airports Jul 2008