Wednesday 13 March 2013

Airport to get a coast guard air enclave

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Airports Authority of India has allotted a portion of the ground floor in its old domestic terminal at Trivandrum airport to the Indian coast guard to establish its air enclave. With this facility, the coast guard will now be able to station Dorniers and helicopters here. The commanding officer, coast guard station, Vizhinjam has forwarded the allotment letter to its HQ for ratification, so it can sign the agreement with the AAI.
 "We were waiting for the allotment letter from the AAI, and now that we have received it. The ministry of defence (MOD) has to approve the operational costs, so we can make payments, sign an agreement, and move into the building The MOD had given us an in-principal approval and calculating the administrative delay in such cases, I am expecting to move in around September," said commandant A Athinarayanan, commanding officer, coast guard station, Vizhinjam.

While the coast guard station, Vizhinjam, will be responsible towards protecting surface assets, the Indian coast guard air enclave (ICGAE) will enforce maritime reconnaissance missions along the southern coast, and will have its own commanding officer and around 150 personnel. The ICGAE would initially operate one Dornier (fixed wing aircraft) and one Chetak helicopter. "The aircrafts sanctioned for the ICGAE are at Daman and Chennai and can be brought here at short notice, but the approvals must be in place. With a similar unit based in Kochi, the ICGAE would make us a formidable force in Kerala with multifarious roles to perform, such as helping fishermen in distress and securing the coast," the commandant said.
 The AAI has allotted 16,533.332 square feet space to the Indian Coast Guard on a three year lease, of which, 13,024.332 square feet is an air-conditioned area in the ground floor of the old domestic terminal, 1,539.2 sq ft in the city-side canopy area and 1,969.8 sq ft in the air-side canopy area.
 "The area available at terminal 1 (old domestic airport) has been utilized in the best interest of the AAI. A portion of the space has been set aside for domestic cargo, and to enhance commercial and administration operations as per AAI policy," said airport director, Trivandrum International Airport, V N Chandran.
 While functioning on AAI land the Indian Coast Guard would have to comply with the AAI terms and conditions pertaining to security, parking regulations, etc. Entry to the apron area will be through the CISF gate and any cost incurred for procuring security from airport security group-CISF, as stipulated by the bureau of civil aviation security guidelines, will be billable to the Indian coast guard.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Airport-to-get-a-coast-guard-air-enclave/articleshow/18942043.cms
 

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