AAI asked to ensure fire safety in hangars

In the wake of the major fire accident in the hangar of Begumpet airport, the Fire Services Department has advised the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure fire safety measures in all the hangars inside the premises.

Installation of sprinkler and hydrant systems, smoke detectors, besides deployment of well-trained security personnel should be taken up to prevent fire accidents in future.

Gross negligence

Of the six hangars, two are being used by the Indian Air Force and hangar number 3 by the A.P. Aviation Academy. Three other hangars near the Air Traffic Control (ATC) are maintained by Indian Airlines.

Of these, one was given on lease to a Central government agency, while two others are used by Indian Airlines for parking their own aircraft, said officials.

“The National Building Code (NBC) stipulates mandatory fire safety systems in hangars but those maintaining them are turning a deaf ear to the norms,” a senior fire official said. He said fire safety norms were ignored at Hangar number 3, which was gutted in Monday’s fire accident and no-objection certificate (NOC) was also not obtained from the department.

AAI official visits spot

Meanwhile, a Deputy Executive Director of AAI came from Chennai and visited the spot on Wednesday. The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials here sent a message to its headquarters in New Delhi explaining the circumstances that led to the mishap.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/aai-asked-to-ensure-fire-safety-in-hangars/article4220090.ece