New Delhi, Feb. 16 The state-owned Airports Authority of India will now be able to import aircraft at a lesser cost for carrying out flight calibration work — which ensures that equipment at airports provide correct technical data to aircraft at airports around the country.
This follows the Finance Ministry granting permission to AAI to import aircraft for flight calibration without paying any import duty which is pegged at about 30 per cent.
Replace ageing plane
At the moment, AAI has three aircraft — two Dornier, both of which are more than 15 years old, and a newer King Air aircraft which are used for calibration work.
Sources indicated that AAI is keen to replace the two ageing Dornier with another King Air variety of aircraft which, after the Finance Ministry notification, should become a less expensive acquisition.
Calibration work
AAI carries out calibration work not only at civil airports but also at defence airports. It is currently undertaking the modernisation of 35 non-metro airports apart from being involved in the modernisation of the airports in Chennai and Kolkata.
Source : Business Line