Car Nicobar Air Force Base

Car Nicobar Air Force Base
कार निकोबार एयर फोर्स बेस

IATA: CBDICAO: VOCX

Car Nicobar
Location of airport in India

Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Indian Air Force
Location Car Nicobar, India
Elevation AMSL 5 ft / 2 m
Coordinates 09°09′09″N 092°49′11″E / 9.15250°N 92.81972°E / 9.15250; 92.81972
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 8,914 2,717 Concrete
Sources:[1]

Car Nicobar Air Force Base (IATA: CBD, ICAO: VOCX) is located in IAF Camp village, on Car Nicobar Island in the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.

History

The 37 Wing Air Force Station at Car Nicobar has an area of 504 acres. The 3,000-feet bitumen runway built by the Japanese during their occupation of these islands between 1942–45 was extended to 8,886 feet by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1967. The first Mi-8 helicopter arrived here in 1982. Besides the No. 122 Helicopter Flight, IAF of Mi-8 helicopters,[2] they have the Dorniers and an Air Defence unit here.[3]

The airstrip was brought into operation by the IAF by raising Staging Post in the year 1956, with its role as refuelling station for all aircraft flying across the Bay of Bengal. The Helicopter Flight was later inducted on 1 April 1985. The Base was upgraded to Forward Base Support Units (FBSU) on 23 August 1986 and subsequently as a Wing on 15 September 1993.[4] The air base was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, when 116 IAF officers and men, and wives and children, died. Little remained of the air base, which was established as India's southernmost defence post. IAF personnel worked night and day: the runway was repaired, navigational aids and the basic infrastructure were put back in place. On 14 April, just three-and-a-half months later, the Car Nicobar Air Base resumed operations.[5]

Structure

The airport resides at an elevation of 5 feet (2 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 02/20 with a concrete surface measuring 2,717 by 43 metres (8,914 ft × 141 ft).[1]

Commercial services

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Administration operate flights between Port Blair and the base, with aircraft chartered from Air India Regional.[6]

Airlines And Destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air India Regional Charter: Port Blair

References

  1. 1 2 Airport information for VOCX from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. "Squadrons ad Helicopter units". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  3. "Andaman & Nicobar Command Saga of Synergy". Sainik Samachar Archive. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. "The Air Element". Purple Beret.com. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  5. "IAF Air Base rises from tsunami wreckage". Rediff News. Retrieved 9 January 2012.

External links


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