Silence prevails at HAL Airport

Silence prevails at HAL Airport

Krishnaprasad

The once busy landmark is deserted

The Ministry has allowed HAL Airport to be used for general aviation purposes

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Abandoned: There is hardly any activity at the HAL Airport in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: Non-scheduled aircraft, including chartered flights, will now use the HAL Airport, which has been closed for commercial operations since Friday midnight following the opening of Bengaluru International Airport.

Operation of chartered flights is allowed at the HAL Airport, as the Union Civil Aviation Ministry permitted the use of this airport for “general aviation” purposes, said officials of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The operations of chartered flights are in addition to the use of the airport for VVIP aircraft, test flights and training, which fall under non-commercial category. Earlier, it was believed that even chartered flights would have to use the new airport, the officials said.

“The ministry said in its notification that the HAL Airport can be used for general aviation, except commercial purposes, without any specific reference to chartered flights. That would mean that the private aircraft owned by individuals or industrial houses can use the airport. Such private aircraft can use the HAL Airport even if they are rented out to others as they are not scheduled airlines,” said an official. “However, what we get as fee for allowing such aircraft to operate is peanuts compared to our earlier revenue,” the official said.

On Saturday, the first day after its closure for commercial flights, two IL-76 aircraft (which are medium-range transport aircraft), two non-scheduled private flights, and an Avro aircraft of the Army used the HAL Airport apart from regular test flights of LCA and other aircraft and helicopters.
Fight to continue

The Airports Authority Employees’ Union has decided to pressurise the Government to include it in the process of renegotiation with the Bengaluru International Airport Limited on the issue of keeping open the HAL Airport for domestic operation.

“We will move the Karnataka High Court challenging the decision to close the HAL Airport, besides demanding inclusion of the Union Government in the process of renegotiation, said AAEU President S.R. Santhanam.

The only relief from the closure of the airport appears to be less traffic on the Airport Road.

Unprecedented silence prevailed at the airport terminal building, parking area and eateries around the airport exit road on Saturday.