'Final Flight Trials' for B'lore intl airport successful

Bangalore, Mar 7 (UNI) The Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli, near here has been proved fit for commercial operation with the successful conduct of 'Final Flight Trials' today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to dedicate the airport to the nation on March 28 and commercial operations will begin on March 30.

In all, five aircraft of Kingfisher Airlines, Air Deccan and the Indian Air Force, with over 400 people, including journalists from Mumbai and Bangalore, made smooth landing at the new airport.

''The landing and take-off was very smooth and the successful trial proved the Airport's readiness to receive international and domestic flights from March 30,'' Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Albert Brunner told mediapersons at the airport.

''This is an overwhelming moment for all of us. We have effectively demonstrated our readiness to handle a real life airport situation for both domestic and international flights,'' he added.

Trials, which began in January, included basic, advanced, integrated and fall-back emergency trials.

Expressing satisfaction over the trial, Mr Brunner said ''today's flight trials were crucial to trial phases, with the airport being in operational mode. This is an excellent opportunity to monitor the airport's operational readiness''.

The Rs 2,470-crore project was taken up by BIAL, a public limited company, under Build Own and Operate mode. Spread over 4,000 acres, the Airport will have the capacity to handle 11 million passengers in its first year of operation against eight million currently handled at the HAL airport here.

UNI MSP JJ AK HT1737