New taxiway to handle increasing Air Traffic ...
Airports Authority of India, Coimbatore has put forward a proposal for a Rs. 30-crore parallel taxiway to ease peak-hour runway congestion. There was a steep growth in passenger and aircraft movement during 2006-07. Two more airlines have expressed an interest to operate from Coimbatore.Airport Director K. Hemalatha told The Hindu that a parallel taxiway would solve the problem of peak-hour runway congestion. Once a flight touches down, it takes 10 to 12 minutes to taxi its way to the apron and to come to a "full stop halt." During this time, another landing or takeoff is not possible. With a parallel taxiway, on touching down the aircraft could leave the runway free for a waiting aircraft. There are seven parking bays available. With a parallel taxiway, pilots need not hover over Coimbatore.
The number of passengers increased to 8.9 lakh during 2006-07 from 5.74 lakh in 2005-06: a growth of over 56 per cent. Similarly, aircraft movement increased from 9,311 in 2005-06 to 12,750 in 2006-07. The number of landings and take-offs has touched 56 a day. Thanks to the entry of a number of low-cost, no-frills airliners, aircraft and passenger movement has grown.
Spice Jet has expressed an interest to operate from Coimbatore by May or June. Silk Air wants to come in by November.
The AAI is modernising the fire station at a cost of Rs. 2.24 crore. This will increase the number of crash fire tenders to four from the present three.
