Air Commodore S Srinivasan, Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of Chandigarh-based 12-wing air force station that controls the city airfield, says in order to control illegal and unregulated constructions in Zirakpur area around the airbase, serious steps are to be taken. Ajay Sura catches up with him to talk about installation of CAT-III ILS instrument landing system, 24X7 operational airport and much more. Excerpts from the conversation
Chandigarh airport will start operating round-the-clock from April 10. How do you assess this development?
I must clarify that airfield was available round-the-clock for IAF operations before the resurfacing started. Even during the resurfacing phase, the IAF was ready to operate 24X7 with emergency lights as per the standing operating procedure but as the name suggests it would done in emergency cases only. Operating round-the-clock from April 10 will certainly be advantageous to the IAF because of the enhanced facilities.
The airport will be closed between 8.30am and 1.30pm every Sunday till September 30. After that, it will remain shut every second and fourth Saturday of the month for repairs. How much of this activity will involve IAF and how will it affect your operations?
Given the large quantum of heavy aircraft operating from this runway, periodic maintenance is mandatory. For instance, a heavy aircraft can leave almost 50 gm of rubber on the runway during each landing which has to be cleared otherwise it effects the braking capability of an aircraft. Similarly, CAT-IIIB will require additional maintenance procedures. Operating an airfield round-the-clock with a single runway requires weekly closure which is a general practice and followed at all other civil and IAF airfields for proper maintenance and upkeep of the runway surface and navigational aids alike.
The IAF had last year staked claim on the old airport building. How have the negotiations to use the building for defence operations advanced?
Talks are going on with the Airport Authorities of India (AAI) and Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL). State governments of Punjab and Haryana also need space for their own state aviation requirement. AAI has some offices there which are difficult to be shifted. The aim is to arrive at a workable solution acceptable to all parties which we hope to achieve very soon.
06/04/19 Ajay Sura/Times of India
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Chandigarh airport will start operating round-the-clock from April 10. How do you assess this development?
I must clarify that airfield was available round-the-clock for IAF operations before the resurfacing started. Even during the resurfacing phase, the IAF was ready to operate 24X7 with emergency lights as per the standing operating procedure but as the name suggests it would done in emergency cases only. Operating round-the-clock from April 10 will certainly be advantageous to the IAF because of the enhanced facilities.
The airport will be closed between 8.30am and 1.30pm every Sunday till September 30. After that, it will remain shut every second and fourth Saturday of the month for repairs. How much of this activity will involve IAF and how will it affect your operations?
Given the large quantum of heavy aircraft operating from this runway, periodic maintenance is mandatory. For instance, a heavy aircraft can leave almost 50 gm of rubber on the runway during each landing which has to be cleared otherwise it effects the braking capability of an aircraft. Similarly, CAT-IIIB will require additional maintenance procedures. Operating an airfield round-the-clock with a single runway requires weekly closure which is a general practice and followed at all other civil and IAF airfields for proper maintenance and upkeep of the runway surface and navigational aids alike.
The IAF had last year staked claim on the old airport building. How have the negotiations to use the building for defence operations advanced?
Talks are going on with the Airport Authorities of India (AAI) and Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL). State governments of Punjab and Haryana also need space for their own state aviation requirement. AAI has some offices there which are difficult to be shifted. The aim is to arrive at a workable solution acceptable to all parties which we hope to achieve very soon.
06/04/19 Ajay Sura/Times of India
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