Operations at Lohegaon airport to be suspended for 3 days

Operation of passenger flight from city's Lohegaon airport will remain suspended for few hours on three days from November 24 in view of President Pratibha Patil's maiden flight in the Indian Air Force's (IAF) front-line fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MKI.

AAI, Pune Officiating Director S K Mahajan told UNI that the IAF had communicated the tentative time slots of varying duration for closure of the airport on November 24, 25 and 26 when the President will be in the city.

The airport, which handles 38 flights daily, is part of the IAF's airbase at Lohegaon--home to the Sukhoi squadron. Under the prevailing system, the IAF has reserved the 0830 hrs to 1030 hrs slot each day for its routine flying exercise, while the remaining 22 hours slot is available for passenger flight operations.

Citing the IAF's note for airport closure, the AAI official said, ''The airport will remain closed between 1325 hrs and 1355 hrs on November 24, when the President is slated to arrive here.

On November 25, it will remain closed between 0925 hrs and 0945 hrs and again from 1030 hrs to 1150 hrs when the president is scheduled to fly in the Sukhoi 30 MKI, he said. On November 26, operations at the airport will be suspended from 1745 hrs to 1815 hrs when Ms Patil is scheduled for her departure from the city, he said.

The AAI though, is yet to receive an official communication from the airliners regarding the anticipated changes in the flight schedule on the three days, AAI, Pune Officiating Director S K Mahajan said.

He said, ''Some flights are likely to be rescheduled, but we have not received a formal intimation yet from the airliners. we expect the same to reach us by November 23.''

-- (UNI) -- 21BY12.xml

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