Hadapsar Airport

Coordinates: 18°29′33″N 073°56′27″E / 18.49250°N 73.94083°E / 18.49250; 73.94083
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Hadapsar airport

हडपसर विमानतळ
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OwnerDirectorate General of Civil Aviation (India)
OperatorGliding Centre
LocationPune, India
Elevation AMSL1,885 ft / 574.5 m
Coordinates18°29′33″N 073°56′27″E / 18.49250°N 73.94083°E / 18.49250; 73.94083
Map
Hadapsar airport is located in Maharashtra
Hadapsar airport
Hadapsar airport
Hadapsar airport is located in India
Hadapsar airport
Hadapsar airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 3,568 1,087 Un-Paved
Frequency 136.0, flight plan zzzz Radial 165 PPN 5NM. Contact Pune ATS for further details.

Hadapsar Airport is a gliderdrome[1] situated at Hadapsar in Pune, Maharashtra. It is owned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)[2] and used by the Gliding Centre of the DGCA. The gliderdrome is spread over 230 acres[3] It consists of a one-km-long unpaved airstrip, a couple of hangars housing the gliders used for daily flying exercises and an administrative block.[2]

History[edit]

In 2011, Government-owned helicopter service company Pawan Hans (PHL) was assigned the task to develop a Helicopter Training Academy cum heliport at Hadapsar. The project was approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA released Rs.10 crore for the purpose. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed with the DGCA for the utilisation of land and other infrastructural facilities. However, in 2017, the Government of India approved the privatization of Pawan Hans[4] following which PHL formally backed out of the project in 2019, stating that it does not want to continue any business association with respect to such facility.[5]

The Gliding Centre was a brainchild of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru[3] to train youngsters for glider pilot licenses. It is the country's only operational facility of its kind under the DGCA.[2] The centre carries out about 3,000 flights a year, the majority of them on Sundays when the club is open to enthusiasts from the city.[3] The Gliding Centre operates a fleet of LET L-23 Super Blanik Sailplanes. The flying season starts from October and continues up to May or early June. The airfield is not operational during the monsoon.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Pune's Hadapsar gliding centre upgrade a waste: Experts". The Times of India. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "DGCA plans to open heliport at Hadapsar". The Times of India. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Heliport won't clip Gliding centre wings, says DGCA". The Indian Express. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Government to sell 51% stake in Pawan Hans, seeks bids to appoint merchant bankers". Financial Express. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. ^ "PIM for inviting EoI for Strategic Disinvestment of PHL by GoI" (PDF). Ministry of Civil Aviation (India). 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. ^ Mangwani, Divya (31 January 2011). "Fly high for just Rs187 in Pune". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Retrieved 6 July 2015.