Aviation ministry wants airports owned by armed forces to follow ICAO norms

An impending audit by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in November has brought the focus of the civil aviation ministry back on airports owned and managed by defence forces.
The ministry wants these 25 airports, also called civil enclaves, to be managed according to ICAO standards and has asked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to look into the issue.
"The defence minister assured the civil aviation ministry that he will look into the matter," said a civil aviation ministry official.
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju held a meeting at his office with the defence minister earlier this month to discuss the matter, the official said.
"The civil enclaves are essentially being maintained and built for fighter aircraft, which are lighter than civilian aircraft. It is not that these airports are unsafe but non-compliance of ICAO norms does raise some concern," said another civil aviation ministry official.
Officials said the civil enclaves do not comply with the ICAO rules that mandate runway markings, a designated safety area alongside the runway, frequent maintenance of runway through friction testing, separation between runway and taxiway, and separation between two aircraft while landing and take-off. 


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