‘Best practices exercise’ conducted at Bhubaneswar airport for nationwide implementation

Bhubaneswar: With regional air connectivity and number of air travellers likely to increase following implementation of Central scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN), the Airports Authority of India (AAI) today kicked off a tabletop exercise to examine airport emergency best practices which would be implemented throughout the country.

As many as 25 directors of different noted airports across the country are participating in the two-day workshop.

Security, emergency aircraft operations, anti-hijack, disaster preparedness and many other aspects involving airports will be discussed during the workshop.

Speaking to OTV, AAI Technical Executive Director, EP Harendranathan said “The workshop is a laboratory to revaluate best practices pertaining to security, safety, anti-hijack, aircraft emergency at airports and brainstorm on new ideas.”

"We are looking at how effective our contingency plans are and how better we can be. Any new suggestions or practices will be implemented first in Bhubaneswar airport and then at different other airports across the country," Harendranathan said.

Since Odisha has been dealing with recurrent natural disasters like cyclone, flood, application of emergency aircraft operations in Bhubaneswar is the best option, said sources.

Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar airport director Suresh Chandra Hota, who was very enthusiastic about the workshop said, "The best practices reviewed here will be standardized throughout the country.  It gives us chance to showcase ourselves."

https://youtu.be/yEpPK54iLAU