PUNE: Experts in civil aviation are urging increased action against rampant illegal construction activities near Lohegaon airport, warning that the safety of flight operations in the funnel zone may be at risk.
Following the Pune Municipal Corporation’s recent crackdown on unauthorized buildings near the airport, experts believe that the response has been inadequate and delayed. An anonymous Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran commented that such extensive construction couldn’t occur without some level of collusion.
“This is a significant issue that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. The collaboration between law enforcement, builders, politicians, and aviation officials could be contributing to this surge in development,” he stated.
Construction regulations around Lohegaon airport are based on a color-coded zone map. Any construction within the red zone, which extends 3 km from the airport, requires permission from the defence ministry. The blue zone extends 9 km beyond that, with the PMC needing to conduct plinth checks prior to granting any approvals. Additionally, any elevated construction within these zones must receive a no-objection certificate from the defence ministry.
Retired Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale noted, “During my flights from the NDA, all I could see were the Yerawada jail and the mental hospital. Now, burgeoning areas like Kalyaninagar are seeing endless construction.”
He added, “The instrument landing system (ILS) of aircraft is crucial for safe landings. The approach funnel must be completely unobstructed, as any signals or obstructions in these areas can severely compromise the ILS.”
He detailed that the approach funnel typically accommodates a 3° glide slope and recalled that when commercial flights were allowed to land in Amritsar, IAF installations had to be removed to clear way for the funnel, taking both lateral and vertical measurements into account.
Gokhale continued, “Looking at the situation around Lohegaon today, we see establishments like Symbiosis and housing societies encroaching on the lateral sides. It is vital to determine how far these constructions can go and how many floors they can have because once built, demolitions become a significant challenge.”
A crucial aspect that arises from these constructions is security. Gokhale questioned whether any verification checks are being conducted, as builders often sell these structures without proper scrutiny. He mentioned that in the US, there is nothing permitted within a km radius of the airport, whereas here, instances have been observed where the boundary wall of an IAF station was utilized as a wall for a residence.
The PMC is currently conducting a door-to-door survey of establishments near the airport. Rajesh Bankar, a senior official from the PMC’s building permission department, reported, “Residents in areas like Lohegaon, Vimannagar, and Dhanori are reluctant to provide building permission documents. Many are not cooperating, possibly out of fear.”
An IAF veteran further elaborated, “Regulations from the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) set surfaces that limit obstacle height around aerodromes to ensure safety during take-offs, landings, and missed approaches. These surfaces serve to protect flight paths by preventing hindrances in safeguarded airspace, guiding airport planning and placement of buildings, trees, and installations.”
Captain Arpit Manshani, a pilot, pointed out that too much focus is not required on the approach funnel, as IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) approaches are designed with comprehensive obstruction surveys conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Once the IFR approach is established, pilots can access approach charts.
“This allows pilots to rely on instruments in the cockpit for precise landings. However, obtaining an NOC from the AAI is a requirement for constructions, yet builders somehow manage to acquire it,” he commented.
