The Hindu : ICAO to audit facilities at international airports

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 28, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

ICAO to audit facilities at international airports

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, FEB. 27. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will shortly carry out an audit of the facilities at international airports, the Executive Director (Air Traffic Management), Airports Authority of India (AAI), New Delhi, Srikrishan, has said.

He was presiding over a function to present the "All-India Best Fire Station Runners-up Trophy 2002" and the "Regional-level Runners Up Trophy 2003" to the authorities of the Mangalore Airport here on Friday. M.R. Vasudeva, Director of the airport, received the trophies.

Mr. Srikrishan said air traffic was growing at a rapid pace across the globe. Noting that the present air space was inadequate to handle the increasing traffic, he said the alternative was to reduce separation standards between two flying aircraft. This necessarily meant improving facilities at the ground level as well in the Air Traffic Control Department. India was a signatory to the Chicago Convention on air safety, he said and added that the ICAO norms were being tightened to ensure safer air travel.

The General Manager (Fire Services), AAI, New Delhi, H.S. Rawat, said the Best Fire Station Trophy had been instituted to enhance the physical fitness of fire crew, increase their skills, and bring about a change in their attitude to deal with exigencies. Information from fire services around the world had been collected for the purpose. Noting that the AAI intended to integrate training for its international and national divisions of fire services as per the ICAO norms, Mr. Rawat said the authority also planned to introduce stringent inspection norms for fire crew posted at airports, from next year. He advised the crew to learn how to handle sophisticated fire control equipment. The Principal General Manager, Dakshina Kannada Telecom, K.J. Chacko, who was the chief guest, said the authorities of Mangalore Airport should be proud of their achievements. Mr. Chacko, who released a pamphlet on the occasion, advised the fire crew to be on the vigil as their response to any emergency help handle the situation and rescue lives.

The General Manager (Equipment), AAI, S.S. Taj said steps had been taken to provide state-of-the-art equipment to most of the 128 airports in India. Disclosing that the AAI had imported 43 crash fire tenders and positioned them in important stations, he said this was part of the plan to privatise major airports such as the ones in Delhi and Mumbai. However, this would not affect the AAI.

M.S. Ananthakrishna, General Manager (Aero), AAI, Chennai, who presented the regional trophy to Mr. Vasudeva, said it was aimed at motivating the staff.

Mr. Vasudeva welcomed the gathering. The Assistant General Manager (Fire Services), AAI, Chennai, Vijayaraghavan, proposed a vote of thanks. The fire crew gave a demonstration on the occasion.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section

ICAO to audit facilities at international airports

Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay birth centenary celebrations

Traffic diversions for Advani's visit

Kambala today

Baby rescued

Muslims, Dalits told to fight communal forces

KSRTC gesture for mentally challenged sportspersons

Engagements