The Hindu Business Line : DGCA to inspect Bangalore airport facilities this month

Bangalore, April 11 Bengaluru International Airport now awaits the all-important inspection of the airport facilities by DGCA officials around April 22. The scrutiny is preparatory to the grant of airport operator’s licence. A date has not been confirmed yet.

The ATC equipment has been installed and ground trials using it have been on for almost a month. “We really hope that we have sorted out all the issues. There are a few glitches which we have tried to improve” during the extra time between March 30 and the new airport launch date of May 11, according to Mr Albert Brunner, BIAL’s CEO.

The DGCA, he said, could also allow BIAL 12-18 months after the airport opening date to complete the minor issues that do not compromise safety of passengers and aircraft. “Some of them are minor issues and some are bigger ones. We have agreed with the DGCA that those issues [necessary] for safety would be [completed],” Mr Brunner told Business Line.

Asked if the Karnataka Assembly elections in May would affect the inauguration, Mr Brunner said, “Operation of the airport and its inauguration are two different issues.” BIAL has proposed that the airport could start operating first and then it could be formally dedicated once the new Karnataka Government was in place. The authorities have responded positively to this, he said.

The AOD or launch date was shifted because the equipment was not installed in time, the building for it was not ready and the AAI officers had asked for more time to familiarise with the venue and train there.

During two earlier inspections between January and March, the DGCA team listed out 55 things to be done, of which a dozen were outstanding in March. “Whatever we could, we have tried to complete. One of them is that the taxiway shoulders should be paved. We had made it grass. We cannot complete that by AOD. Now that we are already delayed we have tried to pave them as much as possible in these few weeks while there are no aircraft around.”

BIAL is also continuing with two trials a week every week on ground. “At the end of the day, we are better prepared.”

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