Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground is an Indian Air Force airstrip located at Mechuka in Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is an Advance Landing Ground (ALG) of Indian Air Force.
Mechuka Advanced Landing Ground  | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Indian Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Mechuka, Shi Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh, India | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6,562 ft / 2,000 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 28°36′N 94°07′E / 28.60°N 94.12°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  VEMK  VEMK | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
History
editIn June 2019, An Indian Air Force Plane carrying 13 en route from Jorhat Airport in Assam went missing while en route to the airstrip.[1] The aircraft's wreckage was found in the Siang district after eight days after being spotted by an MI 17 helicopter that was on a search & rescue mission.[2]
Military usage
editThe area has a significant military presence, which also creates some employment opportunities for civilians.[3] The airstrip is used frequently to bring in vital supplies from Assam via Antonov-32 aircraft and helicopters. The runway was renovated, strengthened, upgraded to a concrete runway and extended to 4,700 feet in 2017 by the government.In July 2018, Indian Air Force made a history by landing the C-17 Globemaster III at Mechuka ALG.It would make the military logistics transportation easier to the border areas in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India.[4][5]
Civil aviation usage
editThere is a twice-weekly helicopter service offered under the UDAN scheme on Monday and Saturday.[3] Government of Arunachal Pradesh has invited bids from the private airlines to operate a 9-searter fixed-wing air service which will not be under the UDAN scheme.[3][6]
As of December 2022, the new passenger terminal for handling passenger traffic is almost completed, and is expected to begin operations soon with Alliance Air's Dornier 228 passenger aircraft.[7]
See also
edit- Military bases
- List of ALGs
- List of Indian Air Force stations
- India-China military deployment on LAC
- List of disputed India-China areas
- Tianwendian
- Ukdungle
- Borders
- Conflicts
- Other related topics
References
edit- ^ Air Force Plane Carrying 13 Missing After Taking Off From Assam
- ^ Missing An-32: Wreckage of aircraft found in Arunachal after 8 days, confirms Air Force
- ^ a b c Arunachal Pradesh plans fixed-wing flight service to Mechuka, closest to China border, The Hindu, 15 May 2018.
- ^ "IAF's mighty C-17 Globemaster makes maiden landing at Mechuka". The Economic Times. 14 July 2018. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "With eye on China, Indian Air Force lands massive C-17 Globemaster transport plane close to the border". The Times of India. 3 November 2016. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ UDAN reaches Arunachal Pradesh; first commercial flight flagged off
- ^ NEWS, NE NOW (4 December 2022). "Further boost to air connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh, Mechukha to get new airport". NORTHEAST NOW. Retrieved 6 December 2022.