Mobile Airports

Mobile airports coming soon in India

SHILLONG: Mobile airports will soon take a place in the country's aviation sector, with the Czech Republic planning to introduce its latest innovation in the Northeastern part of the country.

The Czech Republic, located in Central Europe, claims to have expertise in the field and plans to introduce such airports that can be transported in trucks and set up anywhere in 20 minutes in the Northeastern states like Mizoram and Meghalaya.

"We are interested in the region because the Czechs are all over India but drew a blank in the Northeast," the Czech Republic Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek said on Friday.

"The Republic provides integrated airport control and monitoring system and mobile airports that can be carried in trucks and set up within 20 minutes."

"We have been in the aviation sector since the beginning of the 20th century. Our skills in portable heliports and mobile airports are recognised world over," he said.

These portable airports, it is learnt, can take aircraft loads of 26-40 tonnes. Czech aviation companies are providing their services in as many as 27 countries.

The Ambassador, Commercial Counselor Vladimir Jenista, and Third Secretary (Commercial) Jitka Znamenackova, are on a visit to the region. They held a meeting with the Chief Minister, other officials from the power and mining department, Neepco and the Airports Authority of India.

Czech expertise in micro hydel projects, airport equipment and food processing were highlighted at the meeting.

"This visit would culminate in an action plan to be followed by a team of Czech business people to the region in October this year," the Ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy said, "After the visit of the technical experts in October, a clearer picture could be worked out and a tie-up with Czech companies could also be made."
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