The recent awarding of Environmental Clearance for the controversial airport project at Aranmula, Kerala, is nothing less than a joke.
The gist of the proposal, M/s KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd had placed before Ministry of Environment & Forests was this:
“Development of Airport at Mallappuzhasserry, Aranmula and Kidangannur villages, Kozhencherry Taluk, Patthanamthitta District, Kerala on a plot area of 500 Acres to cater to air bus A – 300 aircraft. The length of the run-way in the first phase will be 2800 mtr. x 45 mtr. Construction will have G+1 floor of terminal building of 1250 sq.m. in phase I and 15000 sq.m. in phase II.”
And what the Ministry now permits to build?
From the approval letter the ministry has sent to the promoters:
So what is the length of runway KGS people are actually getting instead of the 2800 m they asked for ?
Just this much: 1000-180 = 820 m
And what kind of an aircraft will be able operate from this 820 m runway?
That is the most difficult question the promoters will have to find an answer for themselves- that is, if they really are determined to build an airport at Aranmula.
The smallest aircraft scheduled airlines have in these parts of the world is ATR-42-300. The minimum runway length (Take off field length) required for this 45 seater turbo prop aircraft is 1040 m. But this is for a runway at sea level altitude, with no wind along the runway and with an atmospheric temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. When the temperature and elevation are higher, runway length required would be more. With wind also, the aircraft would require to run longer.
So the only option left for the airlines would be to operate the ATR with a load penalty – that is with reduced capacity.
24/11/13 Jacob K Philip/Decision Height
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The gist of the proposal, M/s KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd had placed before Ministry of Environment & Forests was this:
“Development of Airport at Mallappuzhasserry, Aranmula and Kidangannur villages, Kozhencherry Taluk, Patthanamthitta District, Kerala on a plot area of 500 Acres to cater to air bus A – 300 aircraft. The length of the run-way in the first phase will be 2800 mtr. x 45 mtr. Construction will have G+1 floor of terminal building of 1250 sq.m. in phase I and 15000 sq.m. in phase II.”
And what the Ministry now permits to build?
From the approval letter the ministry has sent to the promoters:
10. SPECIFIC CONDITIONS:That is, the total length of the runway basic strip is only 1000 m. Because it is mandatory to leave 90 m on both ends of the runway as RESA (Runway End Safety Area), the total effective length of the runway will be 180 m less.
(iii) Though the site is not a wetland, in view of the presence of various plants species, Proponent shall fill only minimum area required for runway, apron,taxiway etc and the remaining area will be preserved in its natural form as committed. Only the area required for runway 1000 x 150 mts shall be filled with 1 mt height…”
So what is the length of runway KGS people are actually getting instead of the 2800 m they asked for ?
Just this much: 1000-180 = 820 m
And what kind of an aircraft will be able operate from this 820 m runway?
That is the most difficult question the promoters will have to find an answer for themselves- that is, if they really are determined to build an airport at Aranmula.
The smallest aircraft scheduled airlines have in these parts of the world is ATR-42-300. The minimum runway length (Take off field length) required for this 45 seater turbo prop aircraft is 1040 m. But this is for a runway at sea level altitude, with no wind along the runway and with an atmospheric temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. When the temperature and elevation are higher, runway length required would be more. With wind also, the aircraft would require to run longer.
So the only option left for the airlines would be to operate the ATR with a load penalty – that is with reduced capacity.
24/11/13 Jacob K Philip/Decision Height
