The Shillong airport has finally got the license to install 3C category of instrument landing system (ILS), which will extend the visibility at the airport to 2800 metres.
Interacting with the media person at the airport site on Monday, Sanjeev Jindal, the Regional Executive Director of the Airports Authority of India AAI), said, "The airport has received All infrastructure in place. Q400 aircraft can land at the airport and AAI has already written to different airlines informing that the Shillong airport now has the requisite 3C category ILS license and they can operate from here."
Itmay be mentioned here that earlier the Meghalaya HC had pulled up AAI for thepoor visibility limit at Umroi airport despite installation of ILS.
RG Rama, AAI representative during the hearing said, "We had processed the papers for 3C category but sanction came or 2C category following which we made certain amendments and papers for 3C category were duly processed."
Hefurther said that the airline companies usually want to operate in comfortablesectors where they can get passengers.
"The Shillong airport has huge potential and in future many aircraft would definitely fly from here. More and more airline companies are getting attracted to northeast and in future, more of them would definitely look at other airports in the region including Shillong," he said.
Hefurther said that the airlines need local skilled manpower which is notavailable right now even as he added that they are in the process ofimplementing cargo services from different airports of the region.
Itmay be mentioned that the airport till date is connected by only one ATRaircraft which connects Shillong to Kolkata while Indigo is likely to start itsservices from next month.
