Bangalore’s existing airport to become maintenance hub

With operation of all civilian aircraft set to shift to the upcoming international airport at Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bangalore from April 2008, the existing Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in the City is poised to emerge as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul hub.

Chairman of state-owned HAL Ashok K Baweja told reporters in Bangalore that HAL was in a “serious dialogue” with Airbus to set up Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport.

With all commercial flight operations due to shift to the international airport, the HAL airport will emerge as a key flight-testing and certification facility for HAL and Aircraft Systems and Training Establishment of the Indian Air Force, he said.

Baweja hoped that HAL, which now earns about Rs 1.5 billion every year from operation of commercial flights, should be able to easily offset the revenue loss by setting up the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility with Airbus.

Baweja also admitted that HAL airport in Bangalore has not been able to cope with the increase in air traffic after the boom in civial aviation sector and the increase of the number of airlines operating from the City.

Notwithstanding the proposed shifting of operation of commercial flights to the international airport, HAL airport will be installing a new radar system, besides improving the taxi track to help more aircraft take-offs and landing at the airport, he said.