CAA move to ensure air traffic safety

[lucky_ali]

LAHORE, Feb 8: Alarmed by the recent spate of terrorist strikes, especially the one made at Islamabad airport on Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authorities have started identifying and plugging all possible loopholes in the security of airport installations as well of air traffic.

Besides thorough frisking of visitors, and inspection of passengers’ luggage with the help of sniffer dogs, the airports’ neighbourhoods are also being scrutinised for any potential threat.

Ironically, Cantonment authorities have been identified as `jeopardizing’ the safety of aircraft operations by allowing mobile phone signal boosting towers and billboards in a close proximity of the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, in a letter written by the CAA officials to the Lahore Cantonment Board, the Defence Housing Authority, the district government and the Lahore Development Authority.

“It has been observed that lot of new construction is being undertaken without any height restrictions towards northern and southern ends of the runway at this airport in the areas commonly known as Nadirabad, Gulshan Park, LCCHS, DHA and Al-Faisal Town,” the letter reads.

“Huge billboards and cellular BTS Towers are being erected along the road network and in localities in close proximity of AIIAP. If not checked timely, the said construction will jeopardize the safety of aircrafts operations and pose a serious threat to flights, including VVIP flights,” it adds.

Quoting CAA Rules 1994, the letter warns: “No person is allowed to erect temporary or permanent structures in the vicinity of aerodrome which will protrude through an obstacle limitation surfaces at that airport.”

The authorities concerned have been asked to allow construction of buildings only in accordance with the National Airfield Field Clearance Policy and obtain NOCs from the CAA before approving building plans and cellular BTS towers etc, falling within 50,000 feet of the centre line of the runway.

Source: DAWN

[FMC]

Baah!! Humbug!