The 4.1 km long and 33-m wide concrete airstrip has been constructed by the NHAI as per specifications provided by the IAF.
Published Mar 19, 2024 | 12:02 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 19, 2024 | 12:02 PM
IAF Emergency Landing Facility Strip at Andhra Pradesh. (Screengrab)
The Indian Air Force has carried out an activation of an Emergency Landing Facility airstrip on a national highway in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district, showcasing the high level of “synergy and liaison” between the IAF and civil agencies.
The activation was conducted on 18 March, a senior IAF official said on Tuesday, 19 March.
The 4.1 km long and 33-m wide concrete airstrip has been constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as per specifications provided by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrips enhance the flexibility of air operations during contingencies and are invaluable assets during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in far-flung areas, IAF officials said.
“While other airstrips are already operational in various parts of the country, this ELF in Andhra Pradesh has been recently operationalised in peninsular India,” the IAF said.
On 18 March, the IAF’s fighter and transport aircraft “carried out operations on an ELF airstrip on national highway-16 near Addanki in Bapatla district,” the official said.
“Su-30 and Hawk fighters successfully carried out overshoots during the activation, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft landed and subsequently took off from the strip,” the IAF said.
Indian Air Force fighter and transport aircraft carried out operations on an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip on National Highway 16 near Addanki in Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh yesterday.#SU30 and Hawk fighters successfully carried out overshoots during the… pic.twitter.com/fWCiNA63zZ
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 19, 2024
The activation showcased the “high level of synergy and liaison” between civil agencies such as NHAI, district administration, state police and the IAF towards conduct of complex multi-faceted activities, the official added.
Previously, such an activation was conducted on 29 December 2022.
The IAF along with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is working jointly for creation of ELFs at suitable locations, they said.
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