Tiruchirappalli Airport

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Tiruchirapalli Airport
தி௫ச்சிராப்பள்ளி வானூர்தி நிலையம்
Trichyairportfront.jpg
IATA: TRZ – ICAO: VOTR
TRZ is located in India
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TRZ
Location of TRZ in India
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Ministry of Civil Aviation
Operator Airports Authority of India
Serves Tiruchirapalli
Location Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India
Elevation AMSL 288 ft / 88 m
Coordinates 10°45′55″N 078°42′35″E / 10.76528°N 78.70972°E / 10.76528; 78.70972
Website http://aai.aero
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 2,480 8,136 Asphalt
Statistics (Apr '10 – Mar '11)
Passenger movements 755,593
Aircraft movements 7,182
Cargo tonnage 1,775
Source: AAI [1][2][3]

Tiruchirapalli Airport (Tamil: தி௫ச்சிராப்பள்ளி வானூர்தி நிலையம் ) or Trichy Airport (IATA: TRZ, ICAO: VOTR) is a Customs airport[4] mostly serving Tiruchirapalli and adjacent districts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The airport, located on the NH 210 Tiruchirapalli – Rameswaram highway, is 5 km (3.1 mi)[5] south of the city centre.

Contents

[edit] History

This airport was built by the British during World War II and primarily used by the British Airforce during the world wars. Damaged aircraft which landed in the airport were taken to a workshop in Ponmalai, at a distance of 2 km, repaired and brought back into service. The airport was given permission for civilian operations after the war. Actual passenger traffic started only in the early '80s. Air Lanka started its operations in 1981 with a weekly flight to Colombo and subsequently increased its operations to 14 flights a week currently. Indian Airlines started its operations to Chennai and mid-east countries in mid '80s.

Air Ceylon (Srilankan Airlines)[6] began operations in the late '40s while Indian started services before 1980.[7] Both airlines operated flights from Trichy to Colombo through Jaffna.

[edit] Time Line

  • 1930-40's - According to P. R. Brouse (Air Traffic controller at Trichy airport in 1942), the airport was used as race course during these period. The airport had no building except an ATC and a runway 600 metres long.
  • 1936 - First Airmail for Colombo from India was carried by the TATA's "Goodwill Flight", piloted by H.D.Barucha on December 23, 1936, which took off at Bombay to Colombo after stopping at Hyderabad,Madras and Trichinopoly.[8]
  • 1941 - A regular service in the route Bombay - Trivandrum - Tirchinopoly stopped earlier was resumed on November 4, 1941.[9]
  • 1947 - Ceylon Government asked permission to Indian Government for the operation of Flights between Colombo and Trichinopoly of 3 trips weekly.[10]
  • 1948 - Trichinopoly Aerodrome was given an improvement for full functioning. The Government of India Suggested the Operation of "Air Cylone Service" to Trichinopoly, as there were no other Indian Airline operated on the Trichinopoly - Madras route, the flight was carrying Maily and Freight on this Sector.[11]
  • 1948 - Air Cylone Inauguration a regular Weekly Commercial service between Colombo and Karachi on December 3, 1948, using the Dakota Flight with Passengers through Trichinopoly and Bombay[12]

[edit] Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. Currently the Integrated International terminal is being used for both International and Domestic air traffic. The old terminal at the airport has been converted into an International cargo complex. The 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011.[13]

[edit] Passenger terminal

The new integrated passenger terminal built at cost of INR80 crore (US$17.6 million) was inaugurated on 21 February 2009 and started its operations from 1 June 2009.[14] The two storyed terminal has a total floor area of 11,777 m2 (126,770 sq ft). The terminal is designed to handle 400 passengers at a given point of time. Some of the features of the new terminal include:[15]

  • 12 check-in counters
  • 4 Custom counters (1 departure + 3 arrival)
  • 16 Immigration Counters (8 departure + 8 arrival)
  • 3 Conveyor belts (47 m (154 ft) each)
  • 1 X-ray scanner for baggage
  • Security check units = 2
  • Total aircraft stands = 7
    • 3 for code D aircraft
    • 4 for code C aircraft

[edit] Cargo complex

The old terminal at the airport has been converted into an International cargo complex. The 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011.[13] The Central Board of Excise and Customs had earlier approved and notified the airport as an air cargo complex.[16] The airport is the gateway for foreign export as there is no easy way for export from the central region of Tamil Nadu. A huge variety and quantity of products including perishable and non perishable items, garments, hand loom, computer hardware are produced in this region hence the airport has a high demand for cargo traffic. It is estimated that about 6000 to 7000 tonnes of goods can be exported through it.[17]

[edit] Expansion

Tiruchirapalli Airport has been on expansion mode since 2004. The runway was extended from 6,000 ft (1,829 m) to 8,136 ft (2,480 m), apron expanded to hold 10 aircraft,fire station upgraded,a new taxiway and integrated passenger terminal were constructed.

The proposed Phase 2 expansion on 500 acres (2.0 km2) by AAI includes extending the runway to 12,500 ft (3,810 m), construction of modern Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, additional building complex and other works.[18] The state government has agreed to provide land free to AAI for the phase 2 expansion.

The airport is one of the non-metro airports selected for INR200 crore (US$44 million) city side development on public-private partnership model.[citation needed]

[edit] Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur
Air India Express Abu Dhabi, Chennai, Dubai, Singapore
Jet Airways Chennai
Kingfisher Airlines Chennai, Colombo
Mihin Lanka Colombo
SpiceJet Bangalore, Chennai
SriLankan Airlines Colombo
Tiger Airways Singapore

[edit] Pilot training centres

The airport is also home to a Flying Training Academy. VKN Aviation Academy, promoted by the VKN Group,[19] operates out of a 10,000 sq, ft. plot on the airfield with Five Glass cockpit equipped four seater Cessna 172 R Aircraft.[20] The Academy provides training for obtaining two types of licence:

  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
  • Private Pilot License (PPL)

[edit] Maintenance

  • Air Works has line maintenance facility [21] to conduct transit checks on Airbus A320 type aircraft, which is the second one opened by them next to their Bangalore Facility and it was opened on Behalf of Singapore based Tiger Airways for its aircraft Maintenance at the airport.[22]
  • The low cost carrier Air India Express has an engineering stores complex for service and repairs of its aircraft's. It would help quick turn around of the aircraft's. Repair works could also be carried out here. Initially Four licensed engineers and eight technicians are posted to meet the service and repair requirements of the aircraft's. The stores would also have adequate spares and equipment.[23]

[edit] Gallery

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ TRAFFIC STATISTICS – INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS 3. www.aai.aero
  2. ^ TRAFFIC STATISTICS – INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS 2. www.aai.aero
  3. ^ TRAFFIC STATISTICS – INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS 4. www.aai.aero
  4. ^ "Customs airports of India". Aai.aero. 2010-04-20. http://www.aai.aero/allAirports/custom_airports.jsp. Retrieved 2012-01-28. 
  5. ^ Tiruchirapalli Airport at the Airports Authority of India
  6. ^ Air Ceylon Dakota "Sunethra Devi". Sundaytimes.lk (1999-12-19). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  7. ^ "Indian Airlines' route network". Flight Global. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983%20-%200187.html. Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
  8. ^ The Indian Express Digital Image on Google News
  9. ^ The Indian Express Digital Image on Google News
  10. ^ The Indian Express Digital Image on Google News
  11. ^ The Indian Express Digital Image on Google News
  12. ^ The Indian Express Digital Image on Google News
  13. ^ a b Cargo complex commissioned. Thehindu.com (2011-11-22). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  14. ^ "Trichy Airport new terminal inauguration". The Hindu. 18 February 2009. http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/18/stories/2009021857220100.htm. Retrieved 13 January 2011. 
  15. ^ "Trichy Airport new terminal". Equity Bulls. 22 February 2009. http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=46165. Retrieved 5 January 2011. 
  16. ^ Cargo Notification. Hindu.com (2011-01-22). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  17. ^ Today's Paper News : Air cargo complex in Tiruchi to start functioning from August 15. The Hindu (2011-04-22). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  18. ^ Phase 2 expansion works. Thehindu.com (2010-09-15). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  19. ^ VKN Aviation Academy. Vknplanecompany.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  20. ^ "Tiruchy to get flying school shortly". kalvimalar.dinamalar.com. http://kalvimalar.dinamalar.com/news-details.asp?cat=1&id=2188. Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
  21. ^ "Air Works India website, Press Release". www.airworks.in. http://www.airworks.in/pressreleases_4jan.asp. Retrieved 19 January 2012. 
  22. ^ Air Works maintenance. Hindu.com (2011-01-05). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
  23. ^ Air India maintenance. Hindu.com (2010-12-16). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.

[edit] External links

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  • ^1 Designated as a "restricted international airport" ("customs airport"); a limited number of international flights are permitted at these airports.
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