Lengpui Airport Explained
| Lengpui Airport |
| Nativename: | Lushai: Lengpui Ṭumhmun |
| Iata: | AJL |
| Icao: | VELP |
| Pushpin Map: | India Mizoram#India |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the airport in Mizoram |
| Pushpin Label: | AJL |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Type: | Public |
| Owner: | Government of Mizoram |
| Operator: | Airports Authority of India |
| City-Served: | Aizawl |
| Location: | Lengpui, Mamit district, Mizoram, India |
| Elevation-F: | 1,328.4 |
| Elevation-M: | 405 |
| Website: | Lengpui Airport |
| Metric-Elev: | y |
| Metric-Rwy: | y |
| R1-Number: | 17/35 |
| R1-Length-F: | 8,200 |
| R1-Length-M: | 2,500 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Stat-Year: | April 2023 - March 2024 |
| Stat1-Header: | Passengers |
| Stat1-Data: | 398,667 (11.5%) |
| Stat2-Header: | Aircraft movements |
| Stat2-Data: | 4,058 (0.5%) |
| Footnotes: | Source: AAI[1] [2] [3] |
| Stat3-Data: | 883 (87.4%) |
| Stat3-Header: | Cargo tonnage |
Lengpui Airport is a domestic airport serving Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, India. Located in Lengpui within the Mamit district, the airport lies approximately 32 km north of Aizawl. It offers flights connecting to Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and Silchar. Notably, Lengpui Airport is the first in India to be constructed by a State Government.[4] The airport is also known as Aizawl Airport or Aizawl–Lengpui Airport, reflecting its role in serving Aizawl.
History
The airport was constructed at a cost of ₹ 979 crore,[5] and was completed in a record time of two years and two months. The construction work started in December 1995 and completed in February 1998. The airport was expected to be able to cater to 300 incoming and outgoing passengers.[6] Before the construction of this airport, Aizawl was 130km (80miles) from the nearest railway head at Bairabi and 205km (127miles) from the nearest airport at Silchar. With regards to land acquisition, it has been found out that about 65 percent of the area acquired, belonged to some high government officials and political leaders at Aizawl, who started buying plots from people in Lengpui village at very low prices. They then donated the land to the government for the airport for which the rich persons got much more compensation as donors than the actual farmers.[7] Previously, the airport was also served by Air Deccan which later became Kingfisher Red, but the airline stopped operating from the airport in April 2012.[8]
Technical details
The 2,500-metre runway of the Lengpui airport is unique in that it has many hilly streams running underneath.[9] The airport is one of the airports in India that has a table top runway (others being Kozhikode, Shimla, Mangalore)[10] which creates an optical illusion that requires a very precise approach from the pilot.[11] At present, Lengpui Airport has installed a Cat I instrument landing system,[12] which will help planes land safely during low visibility conditions.[13] A runway safety area[14] and isolation parking bay are also planned.[15] The Indian Air Force is planning to station at least 4 jet fighters at Lengpui airport.[16] Indian Oil handles the aviation fuel service department of Lengpui airport.
Renovation
Starting from 21 April 2021, Lengpui Airport is currently underway under a renovation project that will result in an upgraded terminal and an elevated roadway.[17]
The programme ‘Improvement/Upgradation of Operational/Non-Operational facilities of Lengpui Aiport’ is being funded under North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes (NESIDS) and the Special Central Assistance (SCA) at a cost of Rs. 19.59 crores.[18]
- The SCA is in charge of Earth works, Dismantling Item, PCC works, RCC works, Brick Walling, Plastering, Tile Flooring, Ceiling & Pannelling with ACO Board, Painting, Railing (Stainless Steel with Tuffen Glass), Door & Windows fittings, Temporary Laminated Board Partition, Roof Treatment, Sanitary Fittings, and Sub-Surface Cabel Channel.[19]
- The NESIDS is in charge of Construction of Elevated Road, Construction of Departure Ramp (2 Nos), Extension of Baggage Make-up area, SITC of MRV/VRF Centralised Air Conditioners, Internal Electrification of Terminal Building, and Underground Cable (XLPE/PVC) for First Floor Conveyer Belt.[20]
Statistics
Top flights
Helicopter Service
A Helicopter service by Pawan Hans operating in Lengpui connects Aizawl with Lunglei, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Chawngte, Serchhip, Champhai, Kolasib, Khawzawl, Mamit and Hnahthial.[22] [23]
Accidents and incidents
- On 4 May 2011, a Northeast Shuttle's Cessna Caravan (VT-NES) crash-landed at Lengpui airport, overshooting the runway. While there were no fatalities, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off. The officials at Lengpui airport attributed the mishap to rainfall coupled with strong winds reducing visibility during landing.[24] However, the DGCA enquiry reported the cause of the accident to be "inadequate skill level of the pilot to execute a safe landing during marginal weather conditions". The pilot had failed to execute a stabilized approach. As a consequence the aircraft touched down well past the runway threshold, overshot the runway, and fell into a ravine. The overshoot was a consequence of the pilot choosing to continue with the unstable approach, rather than going around to divert or make another approach. The DGCA also held the operator responsible for not ensuring that the pilot met the minimum regulatory requirements of the DGCA. The pilot was not cleared as per DGCA regulations to operate in airports situated in hilly terrain. The regulator also observed that the availability of a runway end safety area (RESA) and a functioning instrument landing system (ILS) would have increased the safety margin at the airport.[25]
- On 23 January 2024, a Myanmarese army plane crash-landed at Lengpui Airport as it skidded off the runway. Out of the 14 people aboard, 6 were injured.[26] 276 Myanmar soldiers fled to Mizoram due to the Myanmar civil war and on the day before the crash, a Burmese army plane took back 184 soldiers who fled to Mizoram. Then, the next day, it came back to take its remaining 92 soldiers back but skidded off the runway after a late touchdown and fell into a ravine.[27]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
- Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
- Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
- Web site: AAI to handle Mizoram's Lengpui airport . The Hindu . 10 March 2013 . 14 February 2019.
- News: Advani inaugurates Lengpui airport. 14 August 2012. NENA NEWS. 22 December 1998 – 6 January 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20120206233613/http://www.nenanews.com/OT%20Dec22-Jan6,99/oh13.htm. 6 February 2012. dead.
- Web site: LENGPUI AIRPORT. Mizoram PWD. 14 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120427080636/http://mizopwd.nic.in/project/lengpui.htm. 27 April 2012. dead.
- Web site: Pranami. Garg. Lengpui Airport: The Veiled and The Real Victims. 4 September 2012.
- Web site: Kingfisher looks to shut some stations, reduce workforce . livemint . 17 November 2011 . 14 February 2019.
- News: Lengpui Airport safe for passenger flights, claims Aviation Wing. 14 August 2012. mizo news. https://archive.today/20130221205917/http://www.mizonews.net/mizo-news/lengpui-airport-safe-for-flights-claims-aviation-wing/. 21 February 2013. dead.
- News: Indian skies are safe for flying: Kanu Gohain, Ex-Director General, DGCA. 23 May 2010. The Economic Times.
- News: Tabletop runway creates an optical illusion, says pilot . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107121854/http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/23/stories/2010052356181100.htm . dead . 7 November 2012 . 23 May 2010 . . Chennai, India .
- Web site: LENGPUI AIRPORT ILS. https://archive.today/20121218163806/http://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/press-release/lengpui-airport-ils. dead. 18 December 2012. DIPR Mizoram. 14 August 2012.
- News: PTI. Now, planes can land in Mizoram in low light condition. 30 August 2012. Sify News. https://web.archive.org/web/20130619011051/http://www.sify.com/news/now-planes-can-land-in-mizoram-in-low-light-condition-news-national-libwakjiadd.html?ref=false. 19 June 2013. dead.
- News: Sarma. Pankaj. Panel for safer runway at Lengpui. https://web.archive.org/web/20120623060240/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120622/jsp/northeast/story_15640879.jsp#.UCttUKO4KuI. dead. 23 June 2012. 15 August 2012. Telegraph India.
- News: Kingfisher leh Air India ten Mizoram sum nuai 117 an ba. 15 August 2012. The Zozam Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230048/http://www.thezozamtimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5021:kingfisher-leh-air-india-ten-mizoram-sum-nuai-117-an-ba&catid=43:news&Itemid=63. 3 March 2016. dead.
- News: IAF-in Lengpui Airport-ah Jet Fighter 4 dah an dil. https://archive.today/20130416012630/http://thezozamtimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3734:iaf-in-lengpui-airport-ah-jet-fighter-4-dah-an-dil&catid=43:news&Itemid=63. dead. 16 April 2013. 30 August 2012. The Zozamtimes.
- https://www-vanglaini-org.translate.goog/article/48406?_x_tr_sl=lus&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true
- https://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/post/pwd-minister-in-tlawng-lei-dawh-that-mek-leh-lengpui-airport-sak-that-mekte-a-tlawh
- https://www-vanglaini-org.translate.goog/article/48406?_x_tr_sl=lus&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true
- https://www-vanglaini-org.translate.goog/article/48406?_x_tr_sl=lus&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true
- Web site: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map .
- Web site: Mizorama helicopter service Tur chief minister in Hawng . Mizoram DIPR . 14 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131212015939/http://dipr.mizoram.gov.in/press-release/mizorama-helicopter-service-tur-chief-minister-in-hawng . 12 December 2013 .
- News: Nilaini atangin 'Helicopter Service. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923163051/http://www.thezozamtimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5455:nilaini-atangin-helicopter-service&catid=43:news&Itemid=63. dead. 23 September 2015. 20 August 2012. The Zozam Times.
- News: Cessna aircraft crash landed at Mizoram airport, 9 injured. 29 August 2012. The Hindu Business Line.
- News: Final Investigation Report. 20 August 2014. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India).
- Web site: Myanmar Army plane with 14 people crashes at Mizoram's Lengpui airport . 23 January 2024 .
- Web site: Myanmar army plane skids off runway in Mizoram Airport, 8 injured .
Guwahati