Pune: The Union ministry of civil aviation (MoCA), in coordination with other stakeholders including state govts, is discussing the idea of a full-fledged review and checks of the uncontrolled airstrips across the country, sources told TOI. After the plane crash on Jan 28 near Baramati airport, in which deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others lost their lives, there has been a rising demand among aviation experts to carry out checks on uncontrolled airstrips and the functioning of flight training organisations (FTOs). Baramati airport is one such uncontrolled facility managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC). It is without any instrument landing system (ILS) or proper air traffic control (ATC), despite having a table-top runway. Sources said checks are expected to start soon, and all aspects of these airstrips will be inspected, with corrective action to be suggested and implemented. “The plan is being discussed at the moment. Since many of these facilities are under state govts, their assistance is needed in addition to coordination with other agencies,” a source close to minister of state (MoS) for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said. An uncontrolled airstrip is a landing facility that lacks a permanent ATC, specialized navigational aids and dedicated emergency services. In India, there are around 400 uncontrolled airstrips, and many of them are in Maharashtra. Aviation expert and CEO of Avialaz Consultants, Sanjay Lazar, said such airports require attention. “There are three main uncontrolled airstrips in Maharashtra — Baramati, Karad and Chandrapur (Morwa), all under MADC. Additionally, MADC has 15 unlicensed or general aviation airstrips that don’t have an ATC, like Nanded, Yavatmal, Latur, Dharashiv, Amravati, Ratnagiri, Solapur, Akola, Dhule, Phaltan and Kalyan. There are also 400 uncontrolled airstrips across India, and if govt decides to inspect them all, it is a welcome move because there will finally be some control and safety standards over them. Also, category A and B airports are sometimes handled by local flying schools or clubs, etc., and need upgradation in safety measures,” he told TOI. Uncontrolled airstrips often fall under category A and B airports. Category A airports are facilities that have no ATC, while category B airports have limited ATC.
