BANGALORE
Koramangala, Wilson Garden, Basavanagudi, Banashankari, Visveswarapuram, Bytarayanapura, Shankarapuram, Vijayanagar and Kempegowdanagar fall right under the flight path of HAL airport.
The crash of the prototype of Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) at in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu just after take-off from HAL airport at 3.10 pm on Thursday should be a grim reminder of the existing threat to residential areas in Bangalore.
Koramangala, Wilson Garden, Basavanagudi, Banashankari, Visveswarapuram, Bytarayanapura, Shankarapuram, Vijayanagar and Kempegowdanagar fall right under the flight path of HAL airport.
On December 23, 2008, as part of HAL’s Founding Day celebrations, the Indian Air Force’s six-aircraft aerobatics team, Surya Kiran, conducted a breathtaking ‘bomb-burst’ aerial manoeuvre. This manoeuvre claimed two naval pilots in the ill-fated Kiran aircraft, alongside a resident of Hyderabad in March 2010.
On that day, one of the aircraft came within a dangerous 100-m distance of the crowded Garuda Mall located in the Central Business District.
Several crashes close to the airport or in its flight path have raised questions about the safety of residents living in densely populated areas in the vicinity of HAL airport.
Since 1990, there have been six such disasters involving aircraft and helicopters taking off from or landing at the HAL airport but, fortunately, none landed on any populous locality.
A major concern now is that after commercial flight operations shifted to BIA in Devanahalli, the frequency of military test flights has increased at the HAL airport. “There is always a degree of uncertainty during test flights,” said an expert from the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC). “But we carry out the tests at least 50 nautical miles south or south-east of Bangalore so that it does not take place over residential areas.”
However, a closer look at the air accident trends at the HAL airport reveals that most of these have occurred while landing or just after taking off.
Officials of the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE) and NFTC, the two main organisations that conduct test flights, argue that testing facilities at the HAL airport came up much before the residential areas surrounding the airport.
Air Marshal (Retd) Philip Rajkumar, former director, light combat aircraft (LCA) programme and aviation expert, asked, “What can be done if areas surrounding the airfield were allowed to have residential areas?”
Pete Field, former director, US Naval Test Pilot School, going by similar experiences cities in the US have had, told DNA via email: “It is important for local authorities to zone approach and landing corridors of already established airports so that the land use underneath the corridors disallows residential construction. The local community should voice objections to the Bangalore authorities to see if there are flight-approach corridors that offer less risk to the citizenry.”
Swiggy IPO opens today, aims to garner Rs 11327 crore: Check price band, lot size and more
Raftaar breaks silence on his feud with Honey Singh: 'Aapas mein toh kuch bhi ho sakta hai but...'
DNA TV Show: How US Presidential election results may impact the world
Sharda Sinha dies at 72: Who are there in her family?
Who was Sharda Sinha aka Bihar Kokila, famous for Chhath and Maine Pyar Kiya songs?
Bihar Kokila Sharda Sinha passes away in AIIMS, son Anshuman confirms news
Parliament's winter session to begin from Nov 25, to continue till Dec 20
IPL 2025 mega auction dates announced: Check no. of players, venue, where to watch and more
Deepinder Goyal reveals customers' reaction to wife Grecia Munoz delivering Zomato orders
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy flirts with Sudha Murty in viral video from Kapil Sharma show
Ajay Devgn's fans don't want Singham Again to become a blockbuster: 'Rohit Shetty jab tak hai...'
Types, Most Popular and Where to Buy Peptides for Bodybuilding
Luxury in the City of Light: SABO Boutique Hotel Brings Elegance to Varanasi’s Sacred Ghats
Virat Kohli, Babar Azam could play for same team as Afro-Asia Cup set for revival
Shaping the Future of Web Apps: Full Stack Developer’s Expertise in API Design and Cloud Deployment
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Software Performance and Security
Mastering Linux for Superior Sound
Amid divorce rumours of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, Aaradhya praises mother in viral video
AI in Data Warehousing: Future Trends and Innovations
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio IPO worth Rs 840960 crore in 2025: All you need to know
After India's 0-3 loss against New Zealand, Shah Rukh Khan calls Gautam Gambhir...
BIG revelation on Imane Khelif, Olympic gold medallist boxer's medical repot leaked, it confirms…
Meet man who built Rs 152000 crore company, donated Rs 100 crore, now set to lead US firm as...
Visa Uncertainty: Impact of US polls on global talent
Virat Kohli turns 36: IPL franchises send heartwarming birthday wishes to legendary India cricketer
Meet Sanjay Verma, the new DGP of Maharashtra who replaced Rashmi Shukla
Anushka Sharma shares FIRST photo of Akaay, Vamika to celebrate Virat Kohli’s birthday
CAT 2024 admit card to be out today at iimcat.ac.in; know release time, steps to download
Vikas Divyakirti UPSC Tips: Check strategy to crack IAS exam, aspirants should study for...
Video of Pakistani man putting hand into chained tiger's mouth goes viral, social media reacts
Shalini Passi reveals her husband's connection to Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan, they were..
SC upholds validity of UP madrassa law, says it does not violate principle of secularism
US Presidential Elections 2024: What time do the polls close; when will the results be known?
Elon Musk shares controversial post on X amid US election results, video goes viral
Mukesh Ambani's company earned Rs 15393 crore last week, his net worth now stands at...
Chhath Puja 2024: Know about Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, Usha Arghya, date, timings and puja vidhi
Virat Kohli Birthday: Legendary batter turns 36, here's a look at his incredible milestones
When Ratan Tata met his first true love after 50 years, went for dinner together, know who she was
Samantha Ruth Prabhu hits back at trolls who body-shamed her: 'If you guys...'
Two fall prey to Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani's deepfake videos, lose Rs 80 lakh: Report
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward sea ahead of US election
Deepika Padukone romances Hrithik Roshan in Bikini, looks sizzling hot in UNSEEN viral video
Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Meet Caroline Emmons, Ratan Tata's 'first love' with whom he couldn't marry due to...
Who is Rohan Jaitley, frontrunner to replace Jay Shah as BCCI secretary?
World’s most expensive human tooth is valued over Rs 3000000, it belonged to…
Viral video: Little girl’s adorable dance to Lisa Haydon’s 'Manali Trance' impresses internet, watch
SC to deliver its verdict on pleas against Allahabad HC order scrapping UP madrasa law today
DNA TV Show: Why Election Commission changed Assembly by-elections' dates
Days after imposing fine on Anil Ambani, Sebi now issues Rs 130 crore demand notices to...
Thailand announces indefinite visa-free entry for Indian travellers