Visakhapatnam Airport

History

In 1981, the airport commenced civilian operations with one flight per day. The original runway was 6,000 ft (1,800 m) long and a new 10,007 ft (3,050 m)-long and 60 m (200 ft)-wide runway was inaugurated on 15 June 2007 to accommodate medium-sized and wide body aircraft, with the installation and calibration of an instrument landing system (ILS) on Runway 28 as well. Used initially only for military operations, the ILS became operational for commercial aircraft from 30 March 2008. A new terminal building was inaugurated on 20 February 2009 and became operational on 27 March that year.

Terminals

The airport has two adjacent terminals. Currently the integrated terminal handles both international and domestic flights. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has converted the old terminal into a cargo complex.

Passenger terminal

As part of a program to modernize 35 non-metro airports, AAI constructed a state-of-the-art integrated passenger terminal adjacent to the old terminal, at a cost of ₹1 billion (US$15 million). The new terminal building was inaugurated on 20 February 2009. A total of 350 acres (140 ha) land area was used for the project. The terminal has an area of 20,470 m² (220,300 sq ft) and can handle 375 passengers on arrival and 750 on departure at a time. It has three jet bridges and the original apron with parking bays for two aircraft was expanded with bays for another six; three to handle Airbus A340 or Boeing 747-400-sized aircraft; two for medium-sized aircraft; and one to handle regional aircraft such as the ATR 72. There are three remote aircraft parking bays and an isolation bay at the end of Runway 10/28 as well.

Expansion

Due to growing air traffic at the airport, the AAI has made plans to construct six additional aircraft parking bays by extending the apron.

Cargo terminal

The old passenger terminal has been modified into a cargo complex that can handle two Boeing 737-sized aircraft at a time, or a single Boeing 747.

Runways

The airport has two runways: 10/28 (East - West orientation) 3,050 m (10,010 ft) in length; and 05/23 (Northeast - Southwest orientation) with a length of 1,829 m (6,001 ft). Runway 10/28 is used as the primary runway for both civil- and military operations, although civilian operations from Runway 10 are not permitted. Runway 05/23 is exclusively for military operations. The airport operates on a 24-hours basis.

Ground transport

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from the airport to Dwaraka Nagar Bus Station (RTC Complex) and Kakinada; and all city services from and to Gajuwaka and Steel Plant have a stop here.Recently APSRTC had launched ac luxary services from Airport to RTC complex and Madhurawada. Visakhapatnam Airport is situated around 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of the Visakhapatnam Railway Station and 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of Duvvada railway station

Awards and recognition

INS Dega naval base

The Indian Navy started aviation operations in Visakhapatnam in the late 1970s, with the construction of four helipads adjacent to the civil airfield. The airport at Visakhapatnam was transferred to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in 1981. Additional hangars, maintenance facilities and an operations complex were constructed soon after. The air station was called "Naval Air Station, Visakhapatnam".

On 21 October 1991, the air station was renamed and formally commissioned as INS Dega. The base has two aprons and is home to several squadrons, these being INAS 311, INAS 321, INAS 333, INAS 350.

Accidents and incidents