All infrastructure in place, says Airports Authority
SHILLONG: The Shillong airport, which has remained more or less non-functional for years even after the inauguration of the terminal building way back in 2011, has finally got the license to install 3C category of instrument landing system (ILS) which will extend the visibility limit at the airport to 2800 metres.
800 metres. Talking to media persons here on Monday, the Regional Executive Director of the Airports Authority of India, Sanjeev Jindal, said that the airport has received All infrastructure in place, says Airports Authority the license from the Director General of Civil Aviation. He also said that Q400 aircraft can land at the airport and that AAI has already written to different airlines informing that the Shillong airport now has the requisite 3C category ILS license and they can operate from here.
“All infrastructure are available here and there are no issues but the airline companies should get a complete package and they should be comfortable,” he said.
Earlier, the Meghalaya High Court had pulled up AAI for the poor visibility limit at Umroi airport despite installation of ILS.
During the hearing, the AAI representative, R G Rama, had stated that they had processed the papers for 3C category but sanction had come for 2C category following which they made certain amends and papers for 3C category were processed. He said that the airline companies usually want to operate in comfortable sectors where they can get passengers while maintaining that the Shillong airport has huge.
potential and in future many aircraft would definitely fly from here.
He also said that more and more airline companies are getting attracted to the North East and in future, more of them would definitely look at other airports in the North East region including Shillong.
He also said that the airlines need local skilled manpower which is not available here right now even as he added that they are in the process of implementing cargo services from different airports of the region.
It may be mentioned that the airport till date is connected by only one ATR aircraft which connects Shillong to Kolkata while Indigo is likely to start its services from next month.
