The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the aerodrome licence to the Noida International Airport (NIA). The announcement comes a day after NIA received mandatory clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Airport Clears All Safety Checks
The license was issued after the BCAS conducted detailed checks and tests for checking its safety and operational standards prescribed by the regulator. With this, the government gave the upcoming Noida International Airport the licence under the "Public Use" category for all-weather operations. The launch of the airport is expected to be within 45 days.
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The airport covers 390 hectares. It features a 3,900-meter by 45-metre runway supported by an Instrument Landing System and Aeronautical Ground Lighting system, enabling round-the-clock operations.
The aerodrome features parking stands for 24 Code C and two Code D/F aircraft and is equipped with ARFF Category 9 facilities capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777-300ER, according to the statement.
NIA Is Set to Be One Of The Largest in Asia
Chief executive officer of Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), RK Singh, claimed that “The conditional security vetting approval is a milestone for the Noida International Airport as BCAS conducted detailed site inspections and tests before they issued their approvals. Now on Friday, DGCA also issued an aerodrome licence after all tests and formalities were completed."
The Uttar Pradesh government had set the inauguration on March 23, Hindustan Times reported. All necessary preparations are currently being finalised. The airport is being developed in multiple phases. Once fully completed, it will be among the largest airports not only in India but also in Asia,” the publication quoted an official as saying.
ALSO READ: Noida International Airport Gets Aerodrome Licence; NIAL Reveals When Operations Likely To Begin
BCAS had earlier flagged several issue that delayed the airport's inauguration, including issue over potential interference with Doppler Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR)—a navigation aid—and a makeshift steel wall constructed nearby.
NIA is being designated as the National Capital Region’s second major airport after Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is the country’s busiest airport.
The project was given to Zurich Airport International AG in October 2020. Under a 40-year public-private partnership, the airport is being developed and run by its Indian subsidiary, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL).