Itanagar: The much-awaited trial landing of ‘Made in India’ commercial Dornier aircraft of Alliance Air at the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG), Ziro in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh was ‘successfully’ conducted on Thursday.
This was informed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Taking to Twitter, Khandu wrote, “Extremely delighted to share the successful test landing of Dornier flight of @allianceair at Ziro advanced landing ground today. I had promised to my sisters & brothers of Lower Subansiri district to have regular flights for Dibrugarh from Ziro. The wait is going to be over now!”
The 17-seater Dornier aircraft, being operated under the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), with Captain Vijay Kumar, Sr Flight Operation Inspector on behalf of Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Captain Trilok Singh Negi, Captain Nishit Tare and a cabin crew staff on board took off from Assam’s Mohanbari Airport in Dibrugarh district and landed at the picturesque Ziro, one of the oldest towns which is home to the Apatani tribe.
The twin-engine Dornier aircraft is an upgraded version of Vayudoot aircraft that operated at the Ziro ALG 20 years back, informed the district information and public relations officer (DIPRO) quoting the Alliance Air’s pilots.
Captain Vijay Kumar further informed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will soon issue an ‘aerodrome certificate’ to Ziro ALG after which commercial flights can start operating.
On issues of safety, security and smooth flight operations at the Ziro ALG, the pilots informed that the ‘mushrooming’ high-rise buildings near the ALG and the tall trees at Dolo Mando forest range were potential threats to the safe and secure flight operations at the ALG.
Hailing the ‘historic’ event in Ziro’s aviation history, Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Bamin Nime, who was witness to the trial landing episode, assured to initiate necessary corrective measures soon for smooth and safe flight operations at the ALG.
Also present was Tanw Supun Dukun (TSD) general secretary Taku Chatung who had voluntarily donated 700.80 sq mtrs of private land for the construction of civil terminal.
Chatung said that the long-pending demand of people of Ziro valley for air connectivity had been finally met with the trial landing of the Dornier aircraft today.
After Tezu and Pasighat, Ziro ALG will be the third airport in Arunachal Pradesh where Dornier aircraft will provide air connectivity to its people, the DIPRO said.
