Grounded for 17 yrs, AAI to convert aircraft into eatery

A grounded aircraft for seventeen years for which the owner owes Rs five crore parking charges is proposed to be converted into a restaurant by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) here.
The aircraft, belonging to Continental Aviation Company in Pune, had developed a major technical snag on July 21, 1991, and since then has been parked in a corner near the tarmac here.
“We have discussed the plans to convert the aircraft into a restaurant and an educational-tourist spot with higher authorities of AAI. They have shown initial interest and things are taking shape,” Controller of Babasaheb Ambedkar International airport, S N Borkar said.
The aircraft was owned by a then US-based NRI Sam Verma. When contacted, Verma, who hails from Betul in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, claimed that he was not the owner but an advisor to Continental Aviation Company. The aircraft belonged to a US company Electra Tech and Continental had taken it on lease.
The AAI has dragged Continental to court for recovery of a whopping Rs five crore as parking charges. Moreover, Canara Bank and Travels Finance Corporation which had funded the aviation company at the time of launch have also initiated legal proceedings, Borkar said.
13/08/08 Financial Express

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Categories: Airports Aug 2008, Foreign Aug 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2008