Lone Green airport resumes operation in Sikkim

GANGTOK: Lone Green airport resumed operation in the strategic border state of Sikkim from today after a sudden suspension for more than 21 months since June 2019 citing unconducive landing and weather problems.

The airport citied to complete required widening work of Pakyong Green Field airport of basic strip up to 40 meters which however completed in January 2020.

The first flight of M/s. SpiceJet Limited landed at 12.10 hrs with 57 passengers and gone back with 21 passengers on day one.

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Director Tourism and Civil Aviation Kapil Meena told media that the Spice Jet will operate daily operation from Pakyong to New Delhi and will benefited the strategic border State in many ways.

Additional Chief Secretary, Dr J Jayakumar said that resumption of operation is only possible after mutual cooperation from Airport Authority of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation and State Government and able to settled the land disputes amongst the landowners adjourning to the Pakyong airport. He said that the State Government is in consultation with Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India for air connectivity with SARC like Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand in near future.

Pakyong Green Field is falls under the category 2C airport under Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms and is clear it’s all huddles as per the laid norms of the DGCA 2 C category.

Ramtanu Shah, Operational Director of Pakyong Green Field airport said that the airport has explored introduction Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Required Navigation Performance-Authorization Required (RNP-AR) is being explored with the help of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and have cleared all the hurdles faced during landing and take up of which is physible of 5 kms visibility requirements.

The Greenfield airport is situated at a distance of 30 km from the state capital of Gangtok is strategically situated in Sikkim with larger interest of nation and border security at the time of its necessity was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 September 2018.

The first commercial flight operations from the Pakyong Airport began on 4th October, 2018 between Pakyong and Kolkata and continued till 31 May, 2020.

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