Rourkela: In an important development, Rourkela Airport has been granted Control Zone (CTR) status by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
The chairman of AAI in a letter no. 151/ 2023 has bestowed the CTR status to Rourkela Airport effective from November 2, 2023. The airport authorities had applied for this status September 21.
Control Zone (CTR) is an airspace designated by the authorities for the purpose of providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) service to aircraft operating within.
CTRs are typically established around airports to provide separation and orderly flow of air traffic. Within a CTR, air traffic controllers are responsible for issuing instructions and clearances to aircraft to ensure safe and efficient operation.
CTR is available during published operating hours. This airspace has been classified as ‘D’. And during non-operational hours the classification is ‘G’.
Alliance Air, which started providing flight connectivity to Kolkata, would start operating direct flight to the City of Joy in the next two weeks. To operate this direct flight Alliance Air has already received necessary permissions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Meanwhile, the aviation company is searching for more pilots and aircraft. The company may take planes on hire for connectivity. The state government will provide all necessary help for the UDAN scheme for the next six months.
Following this decision of the state government, the passengers will get the financial benefits as they are getting on the Rourkela Bhubaneswar route.
Speaking on the development, former secretary, SEFI and president of Sachetan Nagarik Manch Bimal Bisi said, “I had a direct interaction with Alliance Air CEO Vineet Sood. He is hopeful that everything will be set right on this route within the next two weeks. They may go to hire pilots and planes to tide over the problems in this route.”
With the airport getting the CTR status, he also exuded hope that ILS will be installed here soon. Besides, the state government will soon initiate the process for transfer of land making it easier for the installation of ILS, he added.
PNN