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Centre Plans To Have 500 Small Airports: Patel

By pardeep3dec, Section Development
Posted on Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 02:28:40 AM EST

The centre wants at least 500 small airports to come up all over the country to facilitate growth of regional airlines, the future of domestic aviation industry, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said today.

"The government is promoting regional airlines. That is where the traffic is The US has 5,100 operational airports. Why can't we have at least 500?" Patel asked after laying the foundation stone for developing infrastructure for the Behala Flying Club.

The country's oldest flying institute was finally opened after lying defunct for over two decades.

Started in 1963 by industrialist Biren Roy, the Behala Flying Club had provided avi ation training to, among others, Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee and former Orissa Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Spread over 300 acres in west Behala, the Centre has already lined up a Rs 10 crore package for the upgrade of the institute in the first phase. It has also sought land from the state government to go ahead with its plans.

Sources said Rs 10 crore would be spent in erecting boundary walls, lighting facilities and developing the airstrip. Later, the runway would have to be extended from the present 3,500 feet to 4,500 feet for operation of commercial aircraft.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was present at the occasion, promised infrastructure and logistical support for the modernisation of the Behala airport. He directed local MPs to look for land.

"We are not asking for funds. All we want is land, water and electricity from the state government to modernise the airport," said Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel.

As per the plans, AAI wants to augment the institute to make it fit for landing of small commercial aircraft.

Given the growing pressure on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, the institute could serve as a subsidiary airport to the Dum Dum airport in the future.

The day also marked the official inauguration of the Camellia Group's institute of aviation.

Bhattacharjee also pointed out that the entry of private players into the aviation in dustry has triggered a demand for trained pilots. The state government wants more aviation training institutes to cater to this growing demand.

"We, therefore, floated tenders and the Camelia group has won it. I hope that the Camelia Flying Institute will turnout quality pilot to meet industry demands," he said.

Patel said that the civil aviation sector was expected to generate 30 lakh jobs in the next ten years.

"The number of commercial aircraft in the country will go up to 1,000 from its present strength 350. This means that we will need more pilots. There are 1,000 pilots from abroad who are working in India. We do not have enough pilots in India," Patel rued.

The civil aviation sector is expected to generate 30 lakh jobs in the next 10 years.

In focus ? Opened in: 1947 ? State took over in : 1967 ? Area: 300 acre ? Defunct from: 1984 ? Aircraft: One Cessna Revamp plan ? To be modelled on the lines of Mumbai's Juhu airport ?Runway expansion to 4,500 ft from 3,500 ft ?A boundary wall ?Lighting facilities ?Parking lot for small aircraft Corporate flight services ?To serve as a link airfield for future air taxi operations to Cooch Behar, Andal and Malda airports ?To handle ATR flights in future.

Source:The Indian Express,24-09-07

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