Despite AAI ban, biz jets fly out of Begumpet airport

Hyderabad: Despite a total ban on commercial operations, the Begumpet airport in the heart of Hyderabad seems to be making way for several high-profile Hyderabadis to take off from the facility aboard private choppers. According to documents available with TOI, over half a dozen business jets ferrying three to six passengers each flew in and out of the airport between June 12 and now.Most of the destinations were within the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.This information, coming in days after the horrific Air India aircraft (Boeing 787) crash in Ahmedabad, has raised serious safety concerns especially since the Begumpet facility is nestled within a densely populated pocket of Hyderabad.As part of the concession agreement signed between the Union ministry of civil aviation and the Hyderabad International Airport Ltd in 2008, when the GMR airport was developed at Shamshabad, known as the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), all commercial activity was suspended at the old facility.Incidentally, only weeks ago on June 2, the Airports Authority of India, had issued a circular on implementation of the SOP for handling aircraft operations at Begumpet airport. (A copy is with TOI). Among other guidelines it asked the city facility to ensure only aircraft belonging to defence forces, police, govt dignitaries, and some other non-commercial services are allowed to operate out of its premises. It reiterated the ban on non-scheduled operators (NSOPs) – or commercial aircraft – and allowed authorities a week's time to ensure it was implemented."Yet, in the last few days there has been hectic activity of such choppers from Begumpet. They have been ferrying prominent industrialists, corporate honchos and Tollywood A-listers, along with family members, for various private events," said a source in the know of things.When TOI verified the call signs (unique identifiers used for radio communication between pilots and air traffic control) of these business jets with the updated list of NSOPs available with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, it found that all of them featured on it."This only confirms that commercial activity is being allowed from Begumpet despite AAI orders," said the source alleging that these operators are signing false undertakings, claiming that they are non-commercial flights, to use the city airport, and yet stay under the radar."The airport and ATC here has just enough capacity and skilled workforce to handle VIP movement. To add to its burden with commercial operations is not only unlawful but also risky. Also, because there have been multiple instances of bird hits around the facility," alleged an aviation expert familiar with the facility."We have been following all protocols and guidelines. These allegations have no basis. The aircraft that are permitted to operate out of the Begumpet facility are only allowed here," said an official from Begumpet airport, refusing to be quoted.