ID :
30205
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 10:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/30205
The shortlink copeid
I.A.F. to activate Nyama airfield near China border
Ajit K Dubey
New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) After Daulat Beg Oldi and Fuk Che airfields in Ladakh, India is aggressively pursuing plans to re-open the Nyama Advanced Landing Ground (A.L.G.) for Indian Air Force (I.A.F.) operations close to the Line of Actual Control (L.A.C.) with China.
However, the I.A.F. plans to reopen the Chu Shul A.L.G.
in the region have been shelved for the moment, but could be
revived later.
"We are working on the Nyama A.L.G. and hopefully it
would be open for fixed wing aircraft operations soon. Work
has already commenced there and we will be using it in the
near future," Western Air Command (W.A.C.) chief Air Marshal
Pranab Kumar Barbora told PTI here on Thursday.
"If the government wants, Nyama A.L.G. can be developed
into a proper airfield and can be used for transport aircraft
operations also," he said.
When Nyama gets ready, it will be I.A.F.'s 3rd A.L.G. in
Ladakh to be reopened nearer to the Chinese and Pakistani
borders in the last six months in the region of Jammu and
Kashmir.
The I.A.F. has been reopening airfields to strengthen its
air maintenance operations and promotion of tourism in the
region, which is the gateway to the highest battlefield,
Siachen Glacier.
"I.A.F. had received a request from the government to see
if it can develop airfields in the region for tourism purpose.
We found that reopening these airfields was possible and could
be used for air maintenance operations also," Barbora said.
The I.A.F. is not going to reactivate the Chu Shul
airfield in the near future, as was being speculated.
"We will not be opening the Chushul airfield now. The
Army does not want air maintenance in that area, as their
trucks can move up to the area for supplies," he said.
When I.A.F. reopened Daulat Beg Oldi (D.B.O.) in May this
year, Barbora had flown by an AN-32 transport aircraft to make
the first touch down at the D.B.O.
Fuk Che was also opened for AN-32 aircraft operations
late last month.
The AN-32 is the only fixed wing aircraft in the I.A.F.
inventory. This 10-tonne aircraft can operate from these
airfields, as it was possible to load and unload passengers
and relief material on to the cargo area without switching off
its engines. Such a luxury does not exist on the IL-76
50-tonne heavy-lift aircraft with its four engines.
Aircraft operating from the region cannot afford to
switch-off their engines, as restarting them would be an
impossible task at such high altitudes.
I.A.F. believes that after the arrival of C-130J
'Hercules', which will join the I.A.F. inventory from 2011,
operations from the A.L.G.s would become more effective, as
these aircraft with around 20-tonne carrying capability, can
land and take-off from very short runways.
"The C-130J will be the ideal aircraft for the I.A.F. to
operate from these A.L.G.s as they can fly with more loads,"
Barbora said.
Till now, I.A.F. has transported more than eight tonnes
of load to two functional A.L.G.s and brought back six tonnes
of load from there.
"We have also carried 35 passengers from these A.L.G.s in
the recent months," Barbora added. PTI AJD
SAK
New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) After Daulat Beg Oldi and Fuk Che airfields in Ladakh, India is aggressively pursuing plans to re-open the Nyama Advanced Landing Ground (A.L.G.) for Indian Air Force (I.A.F.) operations close to the Line of Actual Control (L.A.C.) with China.
However, the I.A.F. plans to reopen the Chu Shul A.L.G.
in the region have been shelved for the moment, but could be
revived later.
"We are working on the Nyama A.L.G. and hopefully it
would be open for fixed wing aircraft operations soon. Work
has already commenced there and we will be using it in the
near future," Western Air Command (W.A.C.) chief Air Marshal
Pranab Kumar Barbora told PTI here on Thursday.
"If the government wants, Nyama A.L.G. can be developed
into a proper airfield and can be used for transport aircraft
operations also," he said.
When Nyama gets ready, it will be I.A.F.'s 3rd A.L.G. in
Ladakh to be reopened nearer to the Chinese and Pakistani
borders in the last six months in the region of Jammu and
Kashmir.
The I.A.F. has been reopening airfields to strengthen its
air maintenance operations and promotion of tourism in the
region, which is the gateway to the highest battlefield,
Siachen Glacier.
"I.A.F. had received a request from the government to see
if it can develop airfields in the region for tourism purpose.
We found that reopening these airfields was possible and could
be used for air maintenance operations also," Barbora said.
The I.A.F. is not going to reactivate the Chu Shul
airfield in the near future, as was being speculated.
"We will not be opening the Chushul airfield now. The
Army does not want air maintenance in that area, as their
trucks can move up to the area for supplies," he said.
When I.A.F. reopened Daulat Beg Oldi (D.B.O.) in May this
year, Barbora had flown by an AN-32 transport aircraft to make
the first touch down at the D.B.O.
Fuk Che was also opened for AN-32 aircraft operations
late last month.
The AN-32 is the only fixed wing aircraft in the I.A.F.
inventory. This 10-tonne aircraft can operate from these
airfields, as it was possible to load and unload passengers
and relief material on to the cargo area without switching off
its engines. Such a luxury does not exist on the IL-76
50-tonne heavy-lift aircraft with its four engines.
Aircraft operating from the region cannot afford to
switch-off their engines, as restarting them would be an
impossible task at such high altitudes.
I.A.F. believes that after the arrival of C-130J
'Hercules', which will join the I.A.F. inventory from 2011,
operations from the A.L.G.s would become more effective, as
these aircraft with around 20-tonne carrying capability, can
land and take-off from very short runways.
"The C-130J will be the ideal aircraft for the I.A.F. to
operate from these A.L.G.s as they can fly with more loads,"
Barbora said.
Till now, I.A.F. has transported more than eight tonnes
of load to two functional A.L.G.s and brought back six tonnes
of load from there.
"We have also carried 35 passengers from these A.L.G.s in
the recent months," Barbora added. PTI AJD
SAK
