The Chhattisgarh Government is mulling to set up a Flying Club in Ambikapur in Surguja district to provide affordable aviation training in the State to the local population.
The Ambikapur airport is identified for only Class-2C operations after development due to nearby hills in the approach/take off path of airstrip, officials stated.
On the other hand, the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is the only airport in Chhattisgarh licensed among 66 others in the entire country falling under the ‘public use category’ as on May 27, 2014 according to a list of ‘licensed’ airports mentioned by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government is trying hard to get air connectivity for all its key cities besides getting international flights operated from Raipur at the earliest.
The Centre in its bid to develop 50 airports in the country has already included the industrial cities of Bilaspur and Raigarh in its plans for expanding aviation services in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
Meanwhile, the AAI had already proposed substantial extension of the runway alongwith expansion of the Apron at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, sources said.
There had already been a demand from various operators to extend the runway by another 900 ft first and subsequently to 11000 ft.
The expansion of the Apron would facilitate parking of atleast three additional aircraft, officials stated
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government has provisioned `50 crore in its State Budget 2015-16 for extension of the runway of the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur to bring it at par with international standards.
The AAI has also proposed for providing elaborate drainage and Rain Water Harvesting System on both sides of the runway of Swami Vivekananda Airport here beyond 150 metres from the centre line of runway, officials stated.
The move is to preserve precious rain water resources, they stated.
AAI is also going for drastic cuts to be made in its energy consumption costs on its airport operations with a plan to replace the existing halogen type runway and taxiway light fittings with lED fittings at the Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur, officials stated.