VARAV: Civil aviation ministry is making arrangements for the systematic parking of chartered aircraft that will ferry VIP guests to Ayodhya for the Ram temple’s consecration on Jan 22. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has strategically pinpointed 12 airports across five states — UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, and Uttarakhand — for parking of private and chartered jets set to transport distinguished guests to the event.
The recently inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Ayodhya Airport presents a challenge with only four parking spaces designated for single-aisle jets. One of these limited slots will be exclusively reserved for PM Modi’s aircraft India One.
“There won’t be any other plane at Ayodhya airport once India One lands. Therefore, a dozen airports within a 1,000km range have been asked to share parking spaces where jets can have a night halt after dropping dignitaries in Ayodhya,” an AAI source said.
Among the dozen alternatives proposed are Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, Gaya, and Deoghar.
Sources said AAI has been inundated with requests for the landing of 48 chartered planes in Ayodhya on Jan 22. Among the prestigious arrivals anticipated are ultra-luxurious private jets, including the 10-seater Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Cessna, Beechcraft Super King Air 200, and Bombardier.
Ayodhya’s airport is well-equipped to handle aircraft landings in all weather conditions, including the provision for night landings. Current facilities at Varanasi airport are adept at accommodating 12 non-scheduled flights simultaneously, apart from 10 larger aircraft and one smaller plane. Varanasi airport is bustling with activity as it has already secured parking for 30 flights scheduled between Jan 21 and 23, airport director Puneet Gupta said.
Gupta affirmed that several helicopters are also expected to participate in the ceremony, with concerted efforts made to accommodate most of them locally. However, any potential overflow may be directed to Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
In addition to the logistical intricacies, airport officials face the challenge of the ongoing spell of fog. Gupta clarified that landing in Ayodhya is viable with 550m visibility, while in Varanasi, the threshold is set at 900m visibility.
The recently inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Ayodhya Airport presents a challenge with only four parking spaces designated for single-aisle jets. One of these limited slots will be exclusively reserved for PM Modi’s aircraft India One.
“There won’t be any other plane at Ayodhya airport once India One lands. Therefore, a dozen airports within a 1,000km range have been asked to share parking spaces where jets can have a night halt after dropping dignitaries in Ayodhya,” an AAI source said.
Among the dozen alternatives proposed are Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, Gaya, and Deoghar.
Sources said AAI has been inundated with requests for the landing of 48 chartered planes in Ayodhya on Jan 22. Among the prestigious arrivals anticipated are ultra-luxurious private jets, including the 10-seater Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Cessna, Beechcraft Super King Air 200, and Bombardier.
Ayodhya’s airport is well-equipped to handle aircraft landings in all weather conditions, including the provision for night landings. Current facilities at Varanasi airport are adept at accommodating 12 non-scheduled flights simultaneously, apart from 10 larger aircraft and one smaller plane. Varanasi airport is bustling with activity as it has already secured parking for 30 flights scheduled between Jan 21 and 23, airport director Puneet Gupta said.
Gupta affirmed that several helicopters are also expected to participate in the ceremony, with concerted efforts made to accommodate most of them locally. However, any potential overflow may be directed to Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
In addition to the logistical intricacies, airport officials face the challenge of the ongoing spell of fog. Gupta clarified that landing in Ayodhya is viable with 550m visibility, while in Varanasi, the threshold is set at 900m visibility.
