Tiruchirappalli International Airport

Tiruchirappalli International Airport திருச்சிராப்பள்ளி பன்னாட்டு வானூர்தி நிலையம் Tiruccirāppaḷḷi Paṉṉāṭṭu Vāṉūrti Nilaiyam
IATA: TRZ – ICAO: VOTR
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Ministry of Civil Aviation
Operator	Airports Authority of India
Serves	Tiruchirapalli and Central districts of Tamil Nadu
Location	Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India
Elevation AMSL	288 ft / 88 m
Coordinates	10°45′55″N 078°42′35″E / 10.76528°N 78.70972°E / 10.76528; 78.70972Coordinates: 10°45′55″N 078°42′35″E / 10.76528°N 78.70972°E / 10.76528; 78.70972
Website	http://aai.aero
Map
TRZ Show map of Tamil Nadu TRZ Show map of India
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 09/27 2,480 8,136 Asphalt
Statistics (Apr2015-Mar2016)
Passenger movements 12,97,212(9.1%) Aircraft movements 10,430(7.6%) Cargo tonnage 6,582 (33.6%)
Source: AAI,[1]

Tiruchirappalli International Airport^[2] or Trichy International Airport (IATA: TRZ, ICAO: VOTR) is an international airport^[3] serving Tiruchirapalli metropolis in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is on National Highway 210 connecting Tiruchirapalli with Ramanathapuram and is 5 km (3.1 mi)^[4] south of the city center. The airport is the third largest in the state in passenger and cargo traffic after Chennai International Airport and Coimbatore International Airport. The airport is ISO 9001:2008 quality certified.^[5][6] Tiruchirappalli Airport was declared an international airport on 4 October 2012^[3][7] and the same was notified by AAI on 22 October 2012.

History

Tanjore district This airport was established by the British during World War II and was primarily used by the British Airforce during the world wars. Damaged aircraft that landed at the airport were taken to a workshop in Ponmalai, 2 km away, repaired and brought back into service. The airport was given permission for civilian operations after the war ended.

Air Ceylon (Sri Lankan Airlines)^[8] began operations in the late 1940s while Indian started services in the 80s.^[9] The airlines operated flights from Trichy to Colombo through Jaffna.

This was a Customs Airport until 4 October 2012, when it was given an International Airport status by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.^[3][10] The Indra ATS Automation system was installed at Trichy in April 2012 to help air traffic control increase safety and security.

Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. The integrated international terminal is used for international and domestic air traffic. The old terminal has been converted into an international cargo complex. The 4,000 m² (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011.^[11]

Passenger terminal

Check In Counters

Waiting hall

Airport connecting hall

The new integrated passenger terminal built at cost of ₹80 crore (US$12 million) was inaugurated on 21 February 2009 and started operations from 1 June 2009.^[12] The two-story terminal has a floor area of 11,777 m² (126,770 sq ft). The terminal is designed to handle 470 passengers at a time. Some of the features of the new terminal include:^[13]

• 20 check-in counters
• 6 Custom counters (2 departure + 4 arrival)
• 16 Immigration Counters (8 departure + 8 arrival)
• 3 Conveyor belts (47 m (154 ft) each)
• 1 Baggage assistance counter
• 1 Health officer counter
• 5 X-ray scanner for baggage (3 for registered baggage and 2 for hand baggage)^[14]
• Security check units = 2
• 210 CISF strength
• Total aircraft stands = 7
  • 3 for code D aircraft
  • 4 for code C aircraft

The new terminal has two lounges, VIP lounge managed by AAI and commercial important persons (CIP) lounge also managed by AAI.

Cargo terminal

The old terminal was converted into an international cargo complex at a cost of R10 million.^[15] The 4,000 m² (43,000 sq ft) cargo complex was commissioned for operations on 21 November 2011.^[11] The Central Board of Excise and Customs had earlier approved and notified the airport as an air cargo complex.^[16] The one-time holding capacity of the cargo terminal is 250 metric tonnes ^[17] The airport is the gateway for foreign export as there is no easy way for export from the central region of Tamil Nadu.^[18]

On 11 October 2013, a five-metric ton capacity cold storage facility was inaugurated at the cargo section. This facility will be helpful during flight delay, flight cancellation, advance booking and holiday bookings of cargo.^[19]

Runway

Trichy Airport initially had two intersecting runways. The shorter 1,456 m (4,776 ft) runway 15/33 with PCN 15F/B/W/T was closed and is now used as an alternative taxiway to the international apron. The current runway under use 09/27 is 2,480 m (8,136 ft) long with a PCN 40 F/B/W/T and has turning pads at both ends.^[20] The asphalt runway has a CA-1 ILS (Runway 27 only) and runway edge-lights. The other landing aids include a PAPI, HIRL, AFL and SAPL.^[21]

Expansion

Tiruchirapalli Airport has been undergoing expansion since 2004. The runway was extended from 1,829 m (6,000 ft) to 2,480 m (8,136 ft), apron expanded to hold 10 aircraft, fire station upgraded, a new taxiway and integrated passenger terminal were constructed.

The proposed Phase 2 expansion on 210 hectares (510 acres) by AAI includes extending the runway to 3,810 m (12,500 ft), construction of a modern air traffic control (ATC) tower, additional building complex and other works.^[22] The state government has agreed to provide land free to AAI for the expansion.

Trichy is one of the non-metro airports selected for ₹200 crore (US$30 million) city side development on public-private partnership^[23]

Recent progress

The AAI has sought around 510 acres of land for the current expansion. Of the total about 188 acres are dry land, 116 acres wetland, 164.68 acres defense land, 40.59 acres wasteland and 5.80 is with Hindu religious and Charitable Trust. To facilitate fast process on airport expansion a joint technical advisory committee involving the departments of agriculture, public works department and revenue had been formed chaired by P. Kumar, Trichy MP. The district administration has formed a special team comprising the airport director, revenue divisional officer, joint director of agriculture, officials of Public Works Department, and other agencies concerned to expedite the land acquisition process.

According to the committee, the land acquisition is decided to be carried out in three phases. In the first phase the lands on either side of the existing runway is to be acquired immediately. In the second phase, acquisition of wet and dry land could be taken up. In the third phase the defence land could be acquired.^[24] In 2012, it was decided to acquire the defense land first, as there is consistent agitation from the farmers for acquiring farm lands; later on the remaining lands would be acquired.^[25]

Runway extension

Considering the growing potential of Trichy airport AAI has decided to expand the runway to around 3,200 m (10,500 ft) initially from the existing 2,480 m (8,136 ft) and later to 3,800 m (12,500 ft). It has sought land to the state government and still the response is awaited and once land has been sought the expansion would take place. The district administration has expressed its willingness to pay the market price for the land to be acquired.But the present government does not show any consideration in extending the runway of this airport ^[26]

Terminal expansion

Due to the consistent increase in the air traffic, the integrated passenger terminal building having a total floor area of 11,777 m² (126,770 sq ft) to handle 470 peak-hour passengers has become insufficient. Hence the Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated the action to expand the terminal by constructing additional 17,920 m² (192,900 sq ft) area to enhance the passenger handling capacity to 1075 peak-hour passengers. The AAI has planned to construct a new terminal building, Air Traffic Control - ATC Tower, Airport Staff quarters, CISF staff quarters at cost of Rs.862 crore in Trichy international airport campus. For the same the detailed project report has been prepared and tender has been floated .^[27][28]

Apron expansion

AAI has gone for the extension of apron and construction of ramp equipment area measuring 2,800 sq ft. at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 million.^[29] The construction work is in the final stages and the airport authority is waiting for the nod of Director General Civil Aviation for commissioning the seventh bay along with the apron area.^[30] Further action has been initiated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expand the apron to provide two more aircraft bays, increasing the bays count to nine.^[28]

Airlines and Destinations

An Air India Express Boeing 737-800

A SriLankan Airlines Airbus A320 at the gate

Other facilities

Pilot training centres

The airport is home to a flying training academy promoted by the VKN Group,^[32] operating out of a 10,000 sq. ft. plot on the airfield with five glass cockpit equipped four seater Cessna 172 R aircraft.^[33] The academy provides training for two types of licence:

• Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
• Private Pilot License (PPL)

Maintenance

• Air Works has line maintenance facility^[34] to conduct transit checks on Airbus A320 type aircraft, which is the second one opened by them next to their Bangalore facility. It was opened on behalf of Singapore-based Tiger Airways for its aircraft maintenance.^[35]
• The low-cost carrier Air India Express has an engineering stores complex for service and repairs of its aircraft. It would help quick turn around. Repair works could be carried out here. Initially four licensed engineers and eight technicians are posted to meet the service and repair requirements of the aircraft. The stores would have adequate spares and equipment.^[36]

Incidents and accidents

• A near-collision between an Indian Airlines aircraft bound for Madurai and Jet Airways flight from Thiruvananthapuram over Tiruchirappalli air space was averted around 1.14 pm on 5 Jun 2010 by timely alertness of the pilots of both the planes, together carrying 242 people. On nearing Tiruchirappalli airspace, the planes almost came close, but the IA pilot reduced altitude and brought the aircraft down while the Jet Airways pilot gained altitude to increase the gap between them.^[37]
• A major disaster was averted at Tiruchirappalli airport on 7 November 2011 when an Air India flight carrying 25 people from Chennai to Abu Dhabi was allegedly cleared for landing before a Jet Airways flight bound to Chennai with 65 passengers took off from the same runway. The landing was aborted at the last minute and the collision was averted.^[38][39]

Renaming

After the demise of the former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, there have been formal requests made to rename the Airport as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam International Airport.^[40]

See also

• Tiruchirapalli
• List of international airports in india

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiruchirappalli International Airport.

• VKN Aviation Website
• Airport information for VOTR at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.