Hosur Airport: Tamil Nadu To Appoint Consultant For Critical Airspace Study

As the Tamil Nadu government nears the final stage of site selection for the upcoming Hosur airport, it is preparing to appoint a consultant to carry out an Obstacle Limitation Surface (OSL) survey. This critical assessment will determine the viability of the airspace in the region, which currently falls under the control of the Ministry of Defence, Deccan Herald reported.

Consultant Selection Soon

The selection of the consultant is expected in the coming weeks, with the survey likely to take about a month. This progress follows the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) evaluation, which found two locations-villages near the private airstrip operated by Taneja Aviation and Aerospace Limited (TAAL) in Belagondapalli, and another spot close to the Chennai-Bengaluru highway-suitable for establishing a greenfield airport.

"The next step is the OSL survey to assess the airspace at the shortlisted sites. The entire airspace in the region is controlled by the Ministry of Defence, requiring a detailed study," the English daily quoted a source familiar with the development as saying.

An OSL survey typically covers a radius of up to 20 km from the planned runway's central point, using advanced tools to assess the height and position of potential obstacles. Both proposed sites lie close to restricted airspace due to the presence of defence establishments in Bengaluru, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Tamil Nadu government has already reached out to the Ministry of Defence, requesting airspace relaxation for commercial aviation in the Hosur region. "The permission will take longer due to the processes and sensitivities involved. However, as a first step, we will conduct the OLS survey," the source said.

Another official indicated that the results of the survey will be pivotal in the final site decision. "If the survey indicates that only one location's airspace is feasible for operations, we will choose that location. If both sites are suitable, we will need to make a decision," the second source told the daily.

The AAI, in its assessment, provided an analysis of the pros and cons of both shortlisted sites, selected from five originally proposed by the state government as part of its vision to develop a greenfield airport in Hosur.

2 Shortlisted Out Of 5

The proposal for the airport in Hosur, which is 40 kms away from Karnataka's capital Hosur, stems from the city's fast-paced transformation into a major industrial and automotive hub. The state's ambition to establish a "Knowledge Corridor" and position Hosur as an IT centre further reinforces the necessity for an airport.

During its initial assessment, the AAI examined five locations in and around Hosur. It ultimately shortlisted two: one directly south of TAAL's facilities in Hosur taluk and the other situated east of Hosur and north of Shoolagiri. A draft report submitted in March noted that either location could support airport development without major technical difficulties.

Subsequently, an airspace analysis was conducted to ensure flight paths would not conflict with nearby air zones or hinder optimal runway use.

Nonetheless, a significant hurdle remains: a binding agreement between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Bangalore International Airport Limited prohibits the establishment of another airport within a 150-kilometre aerial radius until 2033.