AAI plans 'aviation educational tours' for students at city airport

NAGPUR: In a bid to create awareness about aviation activities, encourage tourism and provide people, especially school and college students, a good view of the operational area of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL), has plans to start aviation education tours at the city airport.
On February 18, 1911, the first commercial plane flew in India between Allahabad and Naini carrying mails. "To commemorate this milestone, the year 2011-12 is being celebrated as the Civil Aviation Centenary Year and we have decided to run the aviation education tour programme for students and visitors (other than passengers) at city airport," airport director airport director Ashok Kumar Verma said on Friday.
Under the plan, students and people other than passengers will be given entry in viewers' gallery and in operational area of airport (on selected days) at nominal rates. The MIPL has already proposed to reduce the parking charges for vehicles so that more users can make use of parking facilities and also to reduce the viewers' gallery rates at city airport.
Verma claimed that aviation is only the effective method of connecting to the world and even former president APJ Abdul Kalam acknowledged that he grew up watching these aircraft. There are many students who wish to visit airports and gain knowledge about its activities.
He added that at various international airports like Heathrow in London and JFK in New York, students are allowed free passage and they are explained all the procedures like landing and taking off, ATC operations , loading of cargo and refueling under the name of 'educational tour'. "On the same lines, in the city airport which has undergone a sea change in its appearance after being converted into an international airport, AAI has planned to create awareness and even run orientation classes deploying an expert committee of both AAI and MIPL officials throughout the year," Verma added.
The AAI, which is handling communication, navigation and surveillance along with air traffic control (ATC) systems at city airport, is all set for changing its existing system with the newly brought Indra radar system soon.