Mumbai airport too does not have a license

Chennai: If the Express report on June 19 that the Chennai airport has no valid license to conduct flight operations shocked you, be prepared for more. It now transpires that quite a few other aerodromes under the control of Airports Authority of India across the country, including the high traffic Mumbai airport, do not have licenses to conduct operations.
According to sources in the DGCA, at present just eight airports, including Delhi, Bangalore, Shamshabad, Bhopal, Coimbatore and Jaipur, are authorised to conduct flight operations. In fact, the site of the worst air crash in Indian aviation Mangalore's Bajpe airport too has a provisional license, which lapsed in early June this year.
Express had earlier pointed out that according to the Indian Aircraft Rules 1937, an aerodrome that has no license cannot conduct any operations.
Airports are also required to maintain an Aerodrome Manual in accordance with the requirement contained in the Rule 81 of the Indian Aircraft Rules 1937, including the establishment of an effective Safety Management System.
The Aerodrome Manual is used to inform the operating staff about their duties, the services and facilities made available, operating procedures and any restrictions on aerodrome availability.
In the case of the Chennai airport, DGCA sources revealed that a proper manual in accordance with the ICAO standards was not being maintained.
25/06/10 ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Jun 2010