The Hindu

Mangalore, May 8: As a prelude to offer better air traffic services for the landing and take-off of aircraft on its new runway (the second runway which is yet to be commissioned) at the Bajpe airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun parallel testing of its mobile Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at the airport.

The mobile ATC tower offers all the air traffic services that the permanent ATC tower at the airport provides to pilots.

In fact, this mobile ATC tower was earlier used in Bhuj, Gujarat, to provide services to aircraft involved in relief operations after the massive earthquake.

The same tower was later stationed in Baroda. Now, the AAI has sent it to the Bajpe airport to provide air traffic services till another (second) tower is built.

The new tower is needed to provide better air traffic services as the permanent ATC tower is away from the new runway. As a result, the air traffic controllers in the permanent ATC tower find it difficult to get a clear and complete view of the new runway.

As the new runway is ready to be commissioned in a couple of days even if the second tower is not ready by that time the mobile tower will be used to provide air traffic services. The air-conditioned mobile tower will be stationed at a distance from the new runway.

At the same time, the installation and check of lights on the new runway is under progress to provide night landing facilities.

To provide basic infrastructure to set up the immigration and customs counters at the airport the AAI has set up six counters (three for arrival and three for departure) exclusively for immigration clearance. Besides, it has set up a room for the Deputy Superintendent of Police (immigration), a server room and a deportee room.

For customs officials, the AAI has set up a strong room, an interrogation room, a customs bonded warehouse and a room for Assistant Commissioner (Customs). In addition to this, a room for money exchange, a room for terminal manager and a tourist information room have been set up.

The National Informatics Centre has supplied 10 computers to the AAI for use in immigration clearance.

Besides, the airport has an X-ray machine for customs officials and the process of installing another X-ray machine is under progress.

The commissioning of the new runway will assume significance as the Centre on May 3 declared Bajpe airport as a customs airport.