Rangeilunda Airport

Rangeilunda Airport, also known as Brahmapur Airport (IATA: QBM, ICAO: VEBM),[1] is a domestic airport serving the city of Berhampur (also known as Brahmapur) in Odisha, India.[2][3][4] It is located adjacent to Berhampur University at Rangeilunda, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the city centre and 5 km (3.1 mi) from the famous Gopalpur-on-Sea beach. The airstrip was built by the British during World War II.

Rangeilunda Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerPublic Works Department of Odisha
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesBerhampur
LocationRangeilunda, Berhampur, Odisha, India
Elevation AMSL100 ft / 35 m
Coordinates19°17′51″N 084°52′37″E
Map
QBM is located in Odisha
QBM
QBM
Location of airport in Odisha
QBM is located in India
QBM
QBM
QBM (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 2,934 894 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 91 28 Asphalt

Earlier, before the announcement as Airport on 5th May,2023 the Rangeilunda airport was spread over 40 acres and was under the control of the State Public Works Department. The runway was 894 meters (2,934 ft) long and was periodically maintained by the Government of Odisha.[5] However,now work is going on to make the Airport full-fledged with all facilities like Terminal Building, ATC, sufficient Runway to cater big flights etc.There is also one suitable helipad too for facilitating helicopter services.

Earlier, the runway was used only by the defence establishment, State Government, private companies and VIPs to reach Berhampur and other places in South Odisha. Now, the State's second flying training Institute is coming up at the airport.[6][7] The airport was designated to be developed as a regional airport under the government's UDAN scheme in 2018. In view of this, it started commercial operations from 5 March 2023.[8]

Development

The civic authority in consultation with the Town and Country Planning Organisation has developed a Comprehensive Development Plan for the expansion of the city, which also includes a new greenfield airport at a different location other than the present airstrip, as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has expressed concerns over expansion obstacles that would be faced by the authorities if in case of expansion. After repeated requests & agitations by civil society organisation; Odisha Development Forum the airport has been designated by the union government to be developed as a regional airport the government's under UDAN scheme in 2018.

The expansion plan includes to develop the airport in three phases, in which the first phase including a passenger terminal for serving commercial traffic has been completed. The runway is capable of handling 9 to 10-seater aircraft like the Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft. The second phase includes a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and regular scheduled flight operations from Berhampur Airport. The final third phase will involve the expansion of the airport and operating flights with larger aircraft.[9]

At present, the airport has been approved for handling non-scheduled commercial flights by the Government of Odisha, and the new low-cost regional airline, IndiaOne Air, began to operate from the airport to Bhubaneswar two times per week, from 5 March 2023.[10]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
IndiaOne AirBhubaneswar[11]

References
  1. "Brahmapur Airport". centreforaviation.com. CAPA.
  2. "RANGEILUNDA". aai.aero. AAI.
  3. "List of Airstrip in the State maintained by State Government" (PDF). ct.odisha.gov.in. Commerce and Transport Department, Government of Odisha. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  4. "AAI Unserved Airports" (PDF). aai.aero. Airports Authority of India.
  5. Patnaik, Sunil (2012). "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Odisha | Rangeilunda flying club takes off". telegraphindia.com. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012. the present runway is 750-meter
  6. Patnaik, Sunil (2012). "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Orissa | First flight takes off from Gopalpur". telegraphindia.com. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012. Rangeilunda as the second flying club in Orissa
  7. "Gopalpur-on-sea put on air map, IBN Live News". ibnlive.in.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2012. signing of a memorandum of understanding with the state government in 2008 to operate the institute
  8. Baliarsingh, Cassian (5 March 2023). "Non-scheduled flight services commence from Bhubaneswar to Rangeilunda Airport". Odisha TV. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  9. Sunita (4 March 2023). "Flight from Rangeilunda airstrip to Bhubaneswar to fly from tommorrow". Kalinga TV. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  10. Baliarsingh, Cassian (5 March 2023). "Non-scheduled flight services commence from Bhubaneswar to Rangeilunda Airport". Odisha TV. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  11. Baliarsingh, Cassian (5 March 2023). "Non-scheduled flight services commence from Bhubaneswar to Rangeilunda Airport". Odisha TV. Retrieved 5 March 2023.


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