HC asks Aviation ministry to report on Umroi flights

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file their affidavit regarding flight operations from Umroi airport within one week.
A Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice SR Sen, has also directed the ministry and DGCA to depute their authorised officers to be present in the court on the day of next hearing to assist the court on the technical side so that it can pronounce an appropriate order for operating flights “in a time-bound manner and preferably latest by December 10”.
The next date of hearing is December 6.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had filed an affidavit stating that it completed all engineering works for expansion and took necessary steps for installation, testing and calibration of instrument landing system at the airport.
AAI had said after the airport was fully functional with ILS, airline operators would examine the air passenger traffic pattern and submit their proposals to AAI to provide them slots for landing and departure.
The affidavit filed by the Commissioner of Transport showed that the unfinished work has been completed.
As such, the effective date for flight procedure of Umroi airport as per International Civil Aviation Organisation and Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control norms will be January 3, 2019.