The maiden touchdown of aircraft at the international airport coming up at Mattannur in Kannur, scheduled on December 31, has been deferred.
Unseasonal rain and the loss of nearly two-and-a-half months have upset the plan of Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) to go for the first test flight at the 3,050-metre runway of the airport, the fourth in the State.
“We have to defer the plan and the new date and the aircraft that will touch down at Kannur will be finalised only by the end of this month. Tentatively, it will be around January 15,” Managing Director, KIAL, G. Chandramouli told The Hindu here on Monday.
The KIAL authorities are in touch with the Indian Air Force to get clearance for the landing of the Code B aircraft without passengers under the Visual Flight Rules. Several airlines, including Air India Express, have evinced interest. “We have to take a call soon,” he added.
The aircraft needs a 2,400-metre strip for the maiden test flight and the authorities are gearing up to ready it by January second week. The runway has been given a bitumen coat.
08/12/15 S.Anil Radhakrishnan/The Hindu
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Unseasonal rain and the loss of nearly two-and-a-half months have upset the plan of Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) to go for the first test flight at the 3,050-metre runway of the airport, the fourth in the State.
“We have to defer the plan and the new date and the aircraft that will touch down at Kannur will be finalised only by the end of this month. Tentatively, it will be around January 15,” Managing Director, KIAL, G. Chandramouli told The Hindu here on Monday.
The KIAL authorities are in touch with the Indian Air Force to get clearance for the landing of the Code B aircraft without passengers under the Visual Flight Rules. Several airlines, including Air India Express, have evinced interest. “We have to take a call soon,” he added.
The aircraft needs a 2,400-metre strip for the maiden test flight and the authorities are gearing up to ready it by January second week. The runway has been given a bitumen coat.
08/12/15 S.Anil Radhakrishnan/The Hindu
