Calicut International Airport
Encyclopedia
Calicut International Airport (Malayalam കോഴിക്കോട് അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര വിമാനത്താവളം) , also known as Karipur Airport, is an International Airport
serving the city of Kozhikode
(Calicut), Kerala
, India
. The airport is located in Karipur
, Malappuram district about 28 km (17.4 mi) from the Kozhikode Railway Station and 25 km (15.5 mi) from the city of Malappuram
, with the closest railway station being at Feroke
. Air India Express has a base at the airport. It is the seventh busiest airport in the country in terms of international passenger traffic and the nineth busiest airport in India in terms of overall passenger traffic.
The airport was given the international airport status on 2 February 2006, thereby paving the way for the improvement of infrastructure for handling international flights. It is the second busiest airport in Kerala after Cochin International Airport
.
. Funds were collected from Gulf Malayalis for its development in the 1990s when the Union Government
said it did not have funds. To raise the funds needed for airport development, the Malabar International Airport Development Society was formed. Later major developments of facilities, such as extension of runway from 6000 ft (1,828.8 m) to 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) to facilitate operation of wide-body aircraft
were carried out with loans from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation
(HUDCO).
An automated inline baggage system, the first of its kind in India that will do away with the separate X-raying of baggage, is being installed. Several airlines have sought night parking facility at the airport, which has presently 10 parking bays. Permitting night parking at the airport will greatly improve air connectivity. Airports Authority of India
(AAI) will provide three automated boarding/deboarding bridgesaerobridges(plus options for two more) at the airport which will help passengers directly enter the terminal while alighting from an aircraft. A 15000 m² (161,458.7 sq ft) international arrival terminal
has been opened to passengers, similar to the spacious modern international departure terminal that became operational on 14 May 2007. Three user-friendly conveyor belts are installed at the arrival terminal and 800 stainless steel chairs for passengers in the security-hold area. Escalator
s and elevator
s are also installed inside and outside the terminal building. Facilities for the passengers and visitors like fast-food counters, luggage room, jewellery shop, handicraft stall, traffic direction poles, restaurant, and cyber café are also opened at the airport.
The plush and practical interiors and convenient facilities, including leather sleeperettes for transit passengers, has definitely brought the airport to international standards; a great improvement from the stuffy and cramped area it once was.
Domestic carrier Jet Airways
has being granted permission to operate some international routes, Doha
and Muscat
. The airline has started its operation from Calicut International Airport from 23 January 2008. It is expected that Deccan will soon follow the path of Jet Airways in August 2008 when it will have completed five years of flying experience to be eligible for international routes.
for the first time in India at Calicut airport as per the recommendations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, at a cost of Indian Rupees 17,000,000.
The lead-in lighting system is a positive visual guidance to the pilot along a specific approach path for reasons such as avoiding hazardous terrain, etc. It facilitates the pilot to follow the desired approach path. The system is designed in such way that one group of lights is sighted from the preceding group of lights, finally leading the aircraft to the proximity of threshold of the runway. As per standards the runway lead-in lighting system, consist of groups of lights positioned on the desired approach path at an interval of not more than 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) on the extended approach path of the runway. The desired approach path could be curved or straight line.
The lead-in-lighting system at Calicut airport provides desired approach path in the extended centreline of the runway and the group of light units are installed on the top of the 30 m (98.4 ft) high lattice tower
s at four locations: 1820 m (5,971.1 ft), 3123 m (10,246.1 ft), 4271 m (14,012.5 ft) and 6193 m (20,318.2 ft) from the threshold of runway 28. Each group of light consists of three sequential flashing lights in linear configuration. The lead-in-light units are powered through solar power
system at each tower locations with battery banks and inverters
. The lead-in-light system is planned with radio control units for remote operation. The System operates in three pre-selected intensity level at a flashing rate of 120 flashes per minute to meet the various ambient conditions.
The system has been put into service for night operations since October 2003. The radio frequency
control for remote operations of the system from ATC[air traffic control]] tower is also planned.
Supplementing the above lead-in lighting system, solar-powered aviation obstruction lights are also provided at eight critical hilltops around the Calicut Airfield.
destinations targeting the large NRI
population of north Kerala working in the Gulf.
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
serving the city of Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
(Calicut), Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The airport is located in Karipur
Karipur
Karipur is a small town in Malappuram district of Kerala, south India. The place is best known as the site of the international airport of Kozhikode , serving the needs of travellers in the north Kerala region....
, Malappuram district about 28 km (17.4 mi) from the Kozhikode Railway Station and 25 km (15.5 mi) from the city of Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
, with the closest railway station being at Feroke
Feroke
Feroke is a census town and a part of Calicut metropolitan area under Kozhikode Development Authority in the Kozhikode district of the Indian state of Kerala.-Name:...
. Air India Express has a base at the airport. It is the seventh busiest airport in the country in terms of international passenger traffic and the nineth busiest airport in India in terms of overall passenger traffic.
The airport was given the international airport status on 2 February 2006, thereby paving the way for the improvement of infrastructure for handling international flights. It is the second busiest airport in Kerala after Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...
.
History
The airport was sanctioned after a long period of struggle which began in 1977 under the leadership of freedom fighter K. P. Kesava MenonK. P. Kesava Menon
Kizhakke Potta Kesava Menon was a patriot, idealist and Indian independence activist. He had born in Tharoor village of Palakkad as the grandson of the Maharajah of Palghat and as the son of Bhiman Achan. He graduated in Arts from Madras University and Bar-at-law from Middle Temple...
. Funds were collected from Gulf Malayalis for its development in the 1990s when the Union Government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
said it did not have funds. To raise the funds needed for airport development, the Malabar International Airport Development Society was formed. Later major developments of facilities, such as extension of runway from 6000 ft (1,828.8 m) to 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) to facilitate operation of wide-body aircraft
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
were carried out with loans from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation
Housing and Urban Development Corporation
The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited is a government-owned corporation in India. One of the public sector undertakings, it is wholly owned by the Union Government and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. It is charged with...
(HUDCO).
Recent renovation, upgrades and expansion
Due to the recent billion-rupee upgrade of existing facilities, the infrastructure at Calicut International Airport has received foreign airlines.An automated inline baggage system, the first of its kind in India that will do away with the separate X-raying of baggage, is being installed. Several airlines have sought night parking facility at the airport, which has presently 10 parking bays. Permitting night parking at the airport will greatly improve air connectivity. Airports Authority of India
Airports Authority of India
The Airports Authority of India is an organization working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that manages most of the airports in India. The AAI manages and operates 126 airports including 16 international airports, 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves. The corporate headquarters are at...
(AAI) will provide three automated boarding/deboarding bridgesaerobridges(plus options for two more) at the airport which will help passengers directly enter the terminal while alighting from an aircraft. A 15000 m² (161,458.7 sq ft) international arrival terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
has been opened to passengers, similar to the spacious modern international departure terminal that became operational on 14 May 2007. Three user-friendly conveyor belts are installed at the arrival terminal and 800 stainless steel chairs for passengers in the security-hold area. Escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
s and elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s are also installed inside and outside the terminal building. Facilities for the passengers and visitors like fast-food counters, luggage room, jewellery shop, handicraft stall, traffic direction poles, restaurant, and cyber café are also opened at the airport.
The plush and practical interiors and convenient facilities, including leather sleeperettes for transit passengers, has definitely brought the airport to international standards; a great improvement from the stuffy and cramped area it once was.
Domestic carrier Jet Airways
Jet Airways
Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,...
has being granted permission to operate some international routes, Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
and Muscat
Muscat, Oman
Muscat is the capital of Oman. It is also the seat of government and largest city in the Governorate of Muscat. As of 2008, the population of the Muscat metropolitan area was 1,090,797. The metropolitan area spans approximately and includes six provinces called wilayats...
. The airline has started its operation from Calicut International Airport from 23 January 2008. It is expected that Deccan will soon follow the path of Jet Airways in August 2008 when it will have completed five years of flying experience to be eligible for international routes.
Lead-in lighting system
The approach to Calicut airport runway is surrounded with hills and valleys. The approach funnel area of the runway 28 is a 30 m (98.4 ft) to 70 m (229.7 ft) deep undulated valley up to a distance of 6000 m (19,685 ft), immediately following the tabletop runway of 2860 m (9,383.2 ft) long. This terrain needs a special type of Approach guidance lighting system to enhance safety for aircraft operations both during night and poor visibility conditions. Airports Authority of India have provided runway lead-in lighting systemApproach Lighting System
An approach lighting system, or ALS, is a lighting system installed on the approach end of an airport runway and consisting of a series of lightbars, strobe lights, or a combination of the two that extends outward from the runway end...
for the first time in India at Calicut airport as per the recommendations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, at a cost of Indian Rupees 17,000,000.
The lead-in lighting system is a positive visual guidance to the pilot along a specific approach path for reasons such as avoiding hazardous terrain, etc. It facilitates the pilot to follow the desired approach path. The system is designed in such way that one group of lights is sighted from the preceding group of lights, finally leading the aircraft to the proximity of threshold of the runway. As per standards the runway lead-in lighting system, consist of groups of lights positioned on the desired approach path at an interval of not more than 1600 m (5,249.3 ft) on the extended approach path of the runway. The desired approach path could be curved or straight line.
The lead-in-lighting system at Calicut airport provides desired approach path in the extended centreline of the runway and the group of light units are installed on the top of the 30 m (98.4 ft) high lattice tower
Lattice tower
A lattice tower or truss tower is a freestanding framework tower. They can be used as electricity pylons especially for voltages above 100 kilovolts, as a radio tower or as an observation tower....
s at four locations: 1820 m (5,971.1 ft), 3123 m (10,246.1 ft), 4271 m (14,012.5 ft) and 6193 m (20,318.2 ft) from the threshold of runway 28. Each group of light consists of three sequential flashing lights in linear configuration. The lead-in-light units are powered through solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
system at each tower locations with battery banks and inverters
Inverter (electrical)
An inverter is an electrical device that converts direct current to alternating current ; the converted AC can be at any required voltage and frequency with the use of appropriate transformers, switching, and control circuits....
. The lead-in-light system is planned with radio control units for remote operation. The System operates in three pre-selected intensity level at a flashing rate of 120 flashes per minute to meet the various ambient conditions.
The system has been put into service for night operations since October 2003. The radio frequency
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
control for remote operations of the system from ATC[air traffic control]] tower is also planned.
Supplementing the above lead-in lighting system, solar-powered aviation obstruction lights are also provided at eight critical hilltops around the Calicut Airfield.
Airlines and destinations
Almost all international flights operating from the airport are to Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
destinations targeting the large NRI
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
population of north Kerala working in the Gulf.
Cargo
Accidents and incidents
- On 17 January 1969, Douglas C-47A VT-DTH of Hindu Publications crashed on take-off. The aircraft was operating a cargo flight. Both crew were killed.
External links
- Calicut Airport at Airports Authority of IndiaAirports Authority of IndiaThe Airports Authority of India is an organization working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that manages most of the airports in India. The AAI manages and operates 126 airports including 16 international airports, 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves. The corporate headquarters are at...
web site - A-Z World Airports: Calicut Airport (CCJ/VOCL)
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation