BIAL moves another step closer to take-off

Devanahalli airport: Crucial air space pact signed

INDULAL P M, Vijay Times

Bangalore: The Siemens-led private consortium, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), is one step closer to the realisation of the international airport for the City at Devanahalli with the signing of the agreement on the controversial issue of air safety and Air Space Management (ASM).
The agreement was signed by the IAF, Defence Research and Development Organisation, HAL and Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The precise date of the signing of the ASM pact was, however, not disclosed, but BIAL CEO Albert Brunner told Vijay Times from New Delhi that the copy of the agreement was received by him from the signatories on July 6 — a day after the signing of the concession agreement.
The signing of the ASM pact clearly divides the skies over Bangalore into distinctly demarcate air space for the Devanahalli airport, and the airfields at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Kolar air base of the IAF.
According to the ASM agreement, the south portion of Bangalore's air space will be controlled by HAL, while the west portion would be with Air Force Station, Yelahanka. The north-eastern air space will be controlled by BIAL.
The central air space will be controlled jointly by IAF and BIAL, with the former allowed to use up to 3,000 feet altitude, and the rest by the latter.
Further, the Air Space Management Committee recommended smooth and safe air travel through mutual interaction between the IAF, HAL, and BIAL ATCs, besides the DRDO centres at Kolar.
The ASM issue was solved after much haggling among various agencies involved, and the signing of the agreement is seen as a big relief in aviation circles.
"Yes, we have crossed a major hurdle," said Brunner, adding that they were now awaiting the land lease and support agreements from the State Government.