Chandigarh airport hosts world’s 2nd heaviest aircraft Antonov AN-124
CHANDIGARH : The runway at Chandigarh International Airport cleared a crucial test on Friday when world’s second heaviest aircraft, a fully loaded 125tonne Russian-built Antonov AN-124, successfully landed and departed from the facility.
The development will go a long way in getting clearance for handling big aircraft, which mainly are deployed on long-distance international flights. The work to expand the runway is with the Indian Air Force, which has been entrusted with the task of increasing the runway length to 10,400 feet.
As per the official sources, Category-ii instrument Landing System (ILS) will be installed by June 2019, which will enable the aircraft to land and depart even in very low visibility. The airfield lighting system will ensure 24x7 availability of runway to civil as well as military flights.
Officials pleading anonymity said they have conveyed it to the agencies concerned as well as the Punjab and Haryana high court illegal constructions within the restricted area are hindering the operations. “The ₹1,500 crore of taxpayer’s money spent on the airport will not yield expected results if these anomalies are not removed,” said an official.
As of now, 8,600-foot of runway has been made available for operations and the expansion work is going on as per the schedule. The IAF opened the runway for daytime operations after two runway closures in February and May this year. The IAF even extended the operational time every Monday to Saturday and provided operational hours on Sundays. The IAF had earlier maintained that night operations at the airport shall resume by April 2019.
The airbase at Chandigarh was established in 1961 as a major air logistics node of Indian troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. It has also been home to fighter squadrons that were deployed for the air defence of the sensitive Punjab sector. With time, the base grew in size and operated heavy and medium lift air mobility aircraft.
The airport went through a major makeover and a new terminal was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in September 2015.