Ozar Airport

Ozar Airport ओझर विमानतळ
IATA: ISK – ICAO: VAOZ
Summary
Airport type	Public / Military
Owner	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Serves	Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Location	Ozar
Elevation AMSL	579 m / 1,900 ft
Coordinates	20°07′10″N 073°54′49″E / 20.11944°N 73.91361°ECoordinates: 20°07′10″N 073°54′49″E / 20.11944°N 73.91361°E
Maps
Maharashtra in India
ISK Location of the airport in Maharashtra
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 3,582 11,752 Concrete/Asphalt
Sources: GCM,[1] STV[2]

Ozar Airport (IATA: ISK, ICAO: VAOZ) is located at Ozar, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northeast of the city of Nashik, Maharashtra, India. It is owned by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which uses the airport primarily to develop, test and build aircraft for the Indian Armed Forces. It is home to a maintenance station of the Indian Air Force and also supports wide body commercial cargo services.^[3] A new passenger terminal was inaugurated on March 3, 2014.^[4] Commercial service is supposed to begin in May 2016.

History

The airfield was built in 1964, when the Aircraft Division, Nashik, commenced licence manufacture of the MiG-21FL. Other aircraft built here include MiG-21M, MiG-21 BIS, MiG-27 M, Su 30 MKI aircraft. Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) announced the launch of commercial air cargo operations from Ozar airport on 20 September 2011. The cargo services is being managed by HALCON, a joint working group between HAL, state-run Container Corporation (Concor) and Clarion Solutions. The airport is capable of handling large aircraft like the Antonov AN-124s after having creating additional parking space and medical facilities. Clarion Solutions will be the cargo terminal operator. HAL has applied for DGCA permission to seek flight diversions from the Mumbai airport, which are now being handled at the Ahmedabad airport.^[3]

In 2011, HAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra for a Rs 40 crore upgrade of Ozar airport.^[5] The State government will pay Rs 74 crore of the terminal project cost of Rs 84 crore and HAL will fund the remaining Rs 10 crore.^[4][6]

Ojhar Air Force Station

11 Base Repair Depot, one of the eight base repair depots of the Indian Air Force under overall control and supervision of the Maintenance Command, Nagpur is based at Ozar. It was established in 1975 and is an ISO 9001:2000 certified maintenance facility. It conducts overhaul programmes for the IAF's MiG-23s and MiG-29s.^[7]

Terminal

Inauguration of the new terminal

The new terminal building, spread over 22 acres with 8,267 sq metre built-up area can accommodate 300 passengers. The adjoining apron can handle up to six aircraft. The bhoomipujan (Groundbreaking) ceremony of the terminal was performed by PWD Minister and Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on 2 January 2012^[8] and the terminal was inaugurated on 3 March 2014 by the then Union minister for the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel.^[4]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air India Regional	Mumbai (begins 1 May 2016).[9]

See also

• Gandhinagar Airport

References

1. Airport information for VAOZ at Great Circle Mapper.
2. Airport information for Ozar Airport at Search (for) Travel website.
3. "HAL begins cargo services at Nashik airport". IBN. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
4. "Union minister visits new airport terminal". The Times of India. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
5. "Maha govt, HAL to upgrade Ozar airport". Business Standard. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
6. "Ozar terminal to be inaugurated on March 2". The Times of India. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
7. When IAF Turns Industrial Entrepreneur - A Visit to 11 BRD. Vayu Aerospace Review (New Delhi). IV/2003. Retrieved 8 February 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. "Bhoomipujan of terminal building at Ozar Airport". CafeNasik.com. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
9. Commercial flights to start from Nasik

External links

• Website for Nasik Air Cargo