Bajpe Airport: Runway Length to be Increased from 8000 to 9000 ft

New Delhi, May 30 (PTI): The runway length of Mangalore airport, which saw a major air crash a week ago that claimed 158 lives, will be increased from the present 8,000 ft to 9,000 ft to include a larger spillover area, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said. "In fact, we have already taken a decision to extend the runway from 8,000 ft to 9,000 ft. In that 9,000 ft, the spillover area and all such factors will be taken into account," the Minister said.
He maintained that the government would have an "open mind" to implement any measure arising out of the lessons from the Mangalore air crash.
Replying to questions in Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme in CNN-IBN, Patel said the existing 8,000 ft runway was "fully compliant" with all the required guidelines and had a spillover area of 90 metres, which is the threshold area of the runway, based on its length.
"Though I am not an expert, but I can say with a sense of responsibility that if there are any mandatory requirements which are not fulfilled, not only in Mangalore but at any other airport in the country, these shall be corrected."
To a question on having an approach radar at Mangalore, he said it was "already being contemplated. Whatever is required will be done".
Observing that the Mangalore runway was earlier 6,000 feet in length, he said the risks of flying the same type of aircraft was larger. The present one was a new runway, he said. "Whatever has to be learnt from the air crash and whatever has to be improved upon will be done," Patel said.
Soon after the crash, he said he had chaired a high-level meeting of officials and a Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council (CASAC) was set up to advise Directorate General of Civil Aviation on all aspects relating to safety.
Asserting that "Indian aviation is safe", Patel said "aviation per se can only be either 100 per cent safe or zero. ... Aviation is not a game of chance .... Any error can lead to what happened in Mangalore," he said, adding that the inquiry would establish what led to the crash.
Asked whether the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the US Federal Aviation Administration had downgraded Indian aviation sector's safety record, he said it was "absolutely wrong. The ICAO and the FAA both have certified that (aviation in) India is 100 per cent safe."
While disagreeing with the suggestion that the DGCA rules and procedures were "stand alone" and did not match the international norms, Patel said the regulatory body would examine all issues in totality and take necessary decisions.
"Let us not scare people away. These are difficult times but let us not make it an issue where people lose faith in our own system," he added.

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Mangalore Crosses Another Milestone – Airport Terminal Inaugurated

Pics by Dayananda KukkajeDaijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, May 15: The new integrated terminal of the local international airport was inaugurated by union minister for civil aviation, Praful Patel, on Saturday May 15. It was a moment of pride for the people of the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, as the inaugural of the modern terminal will pave way for more international flights, opening up vistas of new opportunities for investment, tourism, employment and business. In his address, Patel said that the Indian aviation market, which is presently ranked ninth in the world, has the potential to jump to fifth spot within the next five years. He said that the runway of the airport, which is 8,000 feet long now, is required to be increased to 9,000 feet so as to earn the international status, and that his ministry is prepared to release Rs 100 crore additionally for development works at this airport. He noted that with the inauguration of a new international standard building, other facilities to raise the airport to international standard will be provided at the earliest and that earnest efforts will be made to fulfill the demand of the people here for commencement of flights to Saudi Arabia and other destinations. He added that all required facilities including the extension of runway here will be provided within a year to ensure that the airport acquires international status.

State Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, who participated in the function as chief guest, revealed about the state’s plan to have airstrips at a distance of about 100 kms from each other. He said the state will have 13 airstrips at various places including Shimoga, Bellary and Gulbarga. He noted that a proposal has been made to the concerned, to allow civil operations in the Bidar naval airport. With the opening of new airports, investors will find it easier to visit the state for various purposes, and a global investors’ meet is being held in Bangalore shortly, he explained. He promised on behalf of the state government, to provide approach road to the new terminal at a cost of nine crore rupees, and that the state cabinet has already given its nod for this project.
Former union minister, Oscar Fernandes, in his address, recollected the inaugural of the local airport for the first time, by the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and that as a ten year-old boy, he had come to watch the inaugural. He urged minister Patel to meet all the requirements of the airport and the demand of the local people for flights to Saudi Arabia. He said that the city is developing into a global educational hub and that the city has been witnessing tremendous development due to the efforts made by successive governments.
Union law and justice minister, M Veerappa Moily, also recalled his trip to the airport during its inauguration several decades ago by Nehru, when he was 11. He expressed happiness at the progress witnessed by the airport in the form of new terminal building, longer runway and modern facilities.
The airport here boasts of being the only international airport in the state that has been established and run by the government. The city is poised for getting more attention at the global level, with the throwing open the new terminal to the service of the nation.
The new airport project has been taken up at a cost of about Rs 500 crore, to be developed in an area of about 583 acres of land. In the first phase, the new terminal building, built at a cost of Rs 147 crore over 70 acres of land, has come up. This building is centrally air-conditioned, and covers an area of 18,220 square metres. Facility to handle Indian and foreign passengers separately has been provided.
For the first time in the history of the airport here, the users of the airport will be able to enjoy services like air-conditioned aerobridge, seven escalators, seven lifts etc. The terminal also has been equipped with inline baggage x-ray system, automatic intelligent fire alarm system, CC camera, car calling system and 28 check-in counters, customers and immigration facility, VIP lounge, restaurant etc.
The new airport can accommodate four A-310 and an A-321 aircrafts at a time. Once the airport is fully developed, three more aircrafts can be parked here. Including the old port, the total capacity of the airport is nine aircrafts and two helicopters. The car park can accommodate 300 vehicles. The new terminal is also nearer to the city by seven kms.
State tourism minister, Janardan Reddy, district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar, MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, city mayor, Rajani Dugganna, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, R V Deshapande, MLA, Abhayachandra Jain etc., were present.
Airports authority of India Chairman, V P Agarwal, delivered the welcome address.
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