Naini Army Runway has been approved for the landing of domestic aircraft. Recently the tests for landing operations were held at Pithoragarh runway. As the Naini runway possesses the required parameters, flights will soon start operating from Pithoragarh. Airport Authority of India, New Delhi tested the Naini Army Runway on Sunday. The automated GPS enabled Swedish automobile was used for the test flight operations.
The Swedish automobile landed on Saturday at Pithoragarh. Later on Sunday, the after effects of landing at the Pithoragarh runway were assessed during the test flight.
Senior Superintendent Vikram Singh along with Supervisor Kuldeep Singh began the preparations for the assessment on Sunday. Senior Superintendent Dharmvir and technical expert Vinod Kumar accompanied them during the preparations. Examination of abrasion of the runway surface and the heat generated are key safety parameters before passing it for landing and take off. Aircraft landing at the speed of 100 – 150 km per hour generates extensive heat due to friction. The 1600 m Naini runway was tested for both such flights. Despite not being a massive runway, it was found to possess all the requisite characteristics of for being a continually operated runway.
After the scrutiny of the runway, the results declared it for having the right hydraulic pressure sustainability. The team will submit the report to Airport Authority of India soon.
Experts told the media that the Swedish automobile for testing the runway was brought in a trolley. Till date, there is no road in the country that is suitable for driving the GPS navigation system enabled Swedish automobile. Whenever any such runway examination is conducted, they need to bring it in a trolley.
Being hilly terrain parts of Uttarakhand are inaccessible. Despite being closely situated it takes a lot of time for traveling by road. This also keeps them isolated from the rest of the country. Airways and highways will help enhance the connectivity of these economically potent regions.