This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
Hadapsar Gliding Centre, also known as Gliding Centre Pune,[1] is a gliderdrome[2] situated at Hadapsar in Pune, Maharashtra. It is owned by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)[3] and used by the Gliding Centre of the DGCA. The gliderdrome is spread over 230 acres[4] It consists of a one-km-long unpaved airstrip, a couple of hangars housing the gliders used for daily flying exercises and an administrative block.[3]
Hadapsar Gliding Centre | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
| Owner | Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) | ||||||||||
| Operator | Gliding Centre | ||||||||||
| Location | Pune, India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,885 ft / 574.5 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 18°29′33″N 073°56′27″E / 18.49250°N 73.94083°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Hadapsar Gliding Centre  Hadapsar Gliding Centre | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Frequency 136.0, flight plan zzzz Radial 165 PPN 5NM. Contact Pune ATS for further details. | |||||||||||
History
editIn 2011, Government-owned helicopter service company Pawan Hans (PHL) was assigned the task to develop a Helicopter Training Academy cum heliport at Hadapsar. The project was approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA released Rs.10 crore for the purpose. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed with the DGCA for the utilisation of land and other infrastructural facilities. However, in 2017, the Government of India approved the privatization of Pawan Hans[5] following which PHL formally backed out of the project in 2019, stating that it does not want to continue any business association with respect to such facility.[6]
The Gliding Centre was a brainchild of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru[4] to train youngsters for glider pilot licenses. It is the country's only operational facility of its kind under the DGCA.[3] The centre carries out about 3,000 flights a year, the majority of them on Sundays when the club is open to enthusiasts from the city.[4] The Gliding Centre operates a fleet of LET L-23 Super Blanik Sailplanes. The flying season starts from October and continues up to May or early June. The airfield is not operational during the monsoon.[7]
References
edit
- ^ "Gliding Centre Pune hanging on ropes old and broken". The Indian Express. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Pune's Hadapsar gliding centre upgrade a waste: Experts". The Times of India. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "DGCA plans to open heliport at Hadapsar". The Times of India. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Heliport won't clip Gliding centre wings, says DGCA". The Indian Express. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "Government to sell 51% stake in Pawan Hans, seeks bids to appoint merchant bankers". Financial Express. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "PIM for inviting EoI for Strategic Disinvestment of PHL by GoI" (PDF). Ministry of Civil Aviation (India). 17 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ Mangwani, Divya (31 January 2011). "Fly high for just Rs187 in Pune". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai. Retrieved 6 July 2015.