New facilities at Lohegaon airport get a crucial push

Pune: A top official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Delhi, called on the authorities at the Air Force Station (AFS), Lohegaon, here o
n Wednesday to discuss issues related to the commissioning of new operational facilities at the Pune airport, which is part of the Indian Air Force base.
Getting the newly laid parallel aircraft taxi track operational and facilitating ground infrastructure for the installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) topped the agenda of the visit by V.P. Agrawal, AAI's member (planning), sources at the airport told TOI.
Agrawal, who ranks among the senior-most AAI board members, heads the critical task of planning and development of airport infrastructure across the country.
The taxi track, which cost Rs 17 crore, has been ready for operation but awaits the IAF's clearance. The parallel aircraft taxi track helps reduce the holding time of aircraft in mid-air and also enables quicker and efficient take-offs and landings. For the airliners, this means a reduction in fuel loss.
The AAI has acquired imported CAT-I level ILS equipment at a cost of Rs 12 crore for the airport. The ILS enables pilots to safely navigate the aircraft for landing in low visibility conditions caused by inclement weather like heavy rain or fog. It is especially helpful during the winter months when instances of flight delays, aborted landings or diversions are more frequent and prove a major cause of inconvenience to air passengers.
03/10/08 Vishwas Kothari/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Oct 2008