AAI, govt in tug-of-war over flying club

Chennai: The tug-of-war between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the state government over relocation of the Madras Flying Club (MFC) has reached a deadlock.
Last week, the government asked the AAI to provide an alternate site for the club in response to an AAI eviction notice telling the club to vacate the building on the airport campus by April 5. "We approached the state government for a solution. It informed AAI that the club cannot be vacated till another site is provided," said MFC secretary Captain K Sebastian Joseph.
According to the AAI, the club building has to be demolished to straighten a taxi track used by aircraft to reach the Guindy-end of the main runway. However, this has allegedly not been mentioned in the eviction notice.
The taxiway parallel to the main runway takes a sharp turn north and runs close to the main runway to avoid the apron of the old airport terminal, now used as a cargo terminal. "The AAI had promised at a high-level meeting attended by government officials in October 2010 that status quo would be maintained till an alternative location is handed over," Captain Joseph added. But the AAI is yet to allot an alternative space or building and the club has opposed the move.
23/03/11 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Mar 2011