IAF takes a major initiative, radar controllers to operate from KIA

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs03

There has been some notable development on the Indian Air Force (IAF) front. IAF is said to have decided to co-locate its radar controllers with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) radar controllers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

Sources say this is being done to give room for simultaneous operations from Yelahanka Air base and KIA. This is said to be first time in India that defence and civil radar controllers are being put in the same space for giving radar control services within respective airspaces.

Further, co-locating will also pave way for dynamic co-ordination between the two controllers which will pave way for enhancing safety of operations and also ensuring that the second runway at KIA is used to its complete potential.

Sources remind that IAF utilises Yelahanka Air Force Station to provide training rookie pilots with help of transport aircrafts and helicopters, Yelahanka base is located near KIA.

The proximity of both the airbase and the new runway of KIA stresses that planes from both the runways have to fly in such a way that the specified minimum radar seperation between two aircrafts is not infringed upon.

Also, a joint working group is said to have been established by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for bringing out procedures for safe conduct of operations without compromising on civil/military operational requirements at both airports. The group comprised members of MoCA and those from the Indian Air Force, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL).

There were several meetings that were organised by JWG in the recent times, with an aim of bringing out safe operational procedures ably supported at the apex level by Air HQ and all stakeholders.

IAF is said to have been in the forefront in all discussions with a positive approach to sharing of airspace, co-location of radar controllers and formulation of safe procedures.