If you enjoy the adventure of the joyrides on gliders or plan to make a tryst with adventure here is a chance for you.
The Civil Aviation Department of Jharkhand is planning to renovate and “activate” the 1500 ft. Gumla Airstrip. And this will be done in an innovative way, through joyrides.
According to the Director, State Hanger, Captain SP Sinha the department is planning to organise a 15-20 days joyride camp at Gumla. The camp will be organised after Holi, the date for which is not fixed though.
The department had planned the camp a proposal for approving the camp would be sent to the government. At the camp, the department plans, the joyride on a glider will be offered to the public at Rs. 300 for 5-10 minutes.
This Gumla Airstrip has been used for landing of helicopters off and on. It was used long back in late 80s for facilitating the landing of the chopper that carried the then Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi. It was also used latest to land the chopper of the DGP Rajeev Kumar when he had gone to attend anti-naxal camp.
“Once activated the strip could also prove handy in promoting tourism,” Sinha said. He said that the people of all age groups would be allowed to enjoy the joyride. The camps will be manned by 4-5 pilots and sufficient number of other technical staffs.
Gumla DC said that the he had not been officially informed about this plan of the government. “The plan might be just in the initial stages. That is why we have not received any communication letter. But its very good if the department is thinking of this renovating the air strip,” he said.