No takers for Goa's Dabolim Airport night operations

Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation Rear Admiral Sanjay Vadgaonkar has stated that night operations are yet to find takers at Dabolim airport, even as civil flights enjoy most of the flying time at Dabolim airport. Interacting with reporters and Navy personnel at a get-together at his residence at INS Gomantak, Vasco, Rear Admr Vadgaonkar said the Dabolim airfield is open round the clock.“Military flights operate from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm. Almost 84 per cent of the time has been given to civil operators, though they do not utilise it. Civil operations take place from 6.30 am to 8 am and from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm. The night slot remains totally unused,” Rear Admr Vadgaonkar said.Claiming that the airport was handed over to the Navy by the Indian Government after the exit of the erstwhile Portuguese regime, Rear Admr Vadgaonkar highlighted the role played by the Navy in Goa since then.

Claiming that the Navy has spent around Rs 75 crore to upgrade facilities at the Dabolim airport, Rear Admr Vadgaonkar said that the Navy has also spent around Rs 40 crore for expansion of the runway which is extended to 3.1 kms to cater to any aircraft. “Exclusive radars for civil aircraft are installed and most of the operations are carried out for civil air traffic,” he said. He admitted that there were two major incidents where two civilian aircraft had to be grounded due to bird hits. “But this problem is only in Goa and the Navy is following a process to drive away the birds,” assured Rear Admr Vadgaonkar.When brought to his notice about the garbage dump inside the naval area at Varunapuri, he assured to look into the matter.

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