KTR wants 10 un-served airports to be made operational

Information Technology Minister K. Tarakarama Rao has welcomed the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of Central Government under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016. Addressing the national conference on Civil Aviation in New Delhi on Friday, KTR said that the RCS would bring ease in travel ensure all round development of Telangana State. KTR informed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the designated implementing agency for RCS, was already in touch with the state government for Warangal and Adilabad airports. “The indicated requirement by the AAI for 195 acres for terminal building (& total requirement of 438 acres) for Warangal airport may be examined afresh as it seems to be on the higher side. While the pre-feasibility study undertaken by AAI in Adilabad indicates land requirement of 347 acres and 554 acres in two phases, I may also point out that the Indian Air Force has sought NOC from the State Government to set up a full-fledged Air Force station in Adilabad which will also be used for civil aircrafts and commercial usage,” he said. The minister said that Basant Nagar was is a useful location and would cater to the need of Ramagundem, Jaypore and other towns of Karimnagar district. He said Dundigal, Hakimpet and Nadirgul are located in the outskirts of Hyderabad and might not serve any significant purpose, since the city already has two full fledged airports. Nagarjuna Sagar, being a important point in the Buddhist tourism circuit, will be a very useful RCS point in view of its potential of religious tourism as well as general tourism. Nalgonda will get increasing flow because of the proposed power projects in Damarcherla, he said.

India eyes direct purchase of six refuelling aircraft

India is now planning "a direct strategic purchase" of six flight refuelling aircraft (FRA) or tankers to enhance the reach of its fighter jets, bombers and surveillance aircraft after the bid to acquire them through global tenders failed twice over the last decade. Consequently, the defence ministry (MoD)+ has scrapped the proposed Rs 9,000 crore contract for acquisition of six Airbus-330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) aircraft, which was hanging fire for several years due to high costs as well as old CBI cases and change in the manufacturer's name from EADS Cassidian to Airbus Group. "Airbus was told towards end-June that the RFP (request for proposal or tender), under which the A-330 MRTT was selected as L-1 (lowest bidder), has been withdrawn. A decision will now be taken for direct acquisition of FRA, a critical operational necessity for IAF

Keeping the noise down at airports in India

In a first in India, Mumbai’s international airport, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), will now be able to identify aircraft that are the noisiest during take-offs, landing and during parking, round-the-clock. To reduce the impact of noise on nearby residential areas, the CSIA has installed NoiseDesk, a web-based noise-monitoring system, which is replicated from London’s Southend Airport. The move comes after India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued a Civil Aviation Requirement in January to contain noise around airports and conduct noise-mapping on the premises because of the increase in new airlines that has led to high noise levels. Unlike some international airports, India has no safety limits set for noise during take-offs and landings.At the CSIA, two stationary noise-monitoring terminals have now been installed under take-off and landing flight paths; together with a mobile unit on the airfield, this allows the airport to respond to noise pollution issues and reduce impact through noise abatement procedures.