Night flying facility may start at Porbandar airport

Gandhinagar: From initial reluctance, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is now veering towards commissioning night flying facility at Porbandar airport, which will go a long way in bolstering maritime air reconnaissance in the strategic north-west (NW) region.
So far the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have been unable to carry out regular night flights from Porbandar as the AAI, which controls this airport, was not too keen on the idea despite installation of approach lighting system at the aerodrome.
Commissioning of coast guard's air enclave in June 2008 and raising of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron by the Navy at Porbandar in 2011, brought in the need to have extended watch hours at the airport, including at night.
"The request of the Indian security agencies to allow night flying in Porbandar is under consideration. We may commission the night flying facility at the airport in another two months time," a senior officer in the AAI's air traffic management department, Mumbai, said.
27/06/11 Anand McNairAnand McNair/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2011