Airliners-India.com

shivendrashukla · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:09 pm Post subject: Trip to HAL Airport, Bangalore

Hi Guys,
This is a TR with a difference. Difference being that this TR is a visit to HAL Airport situated in Bangalore. For those who are not aware, Bangalore has 3 airports and 1 airfield. HAL, for HAL actvities, general aviation, VIP flights and ASTE, BIAL for civil operations and Yehlanka AFB for Military flights.

Our organisation was invited to visit the HAL facilities of LCA-LSP and ATC services. Now there was some coordination error between us and the HAL guys as the scheduled visit was on November 1 and November 1 is the state foundation day here in Karnataka. Therefore the LCA-LSP facilities were closed. So we were just able to pay a visit to HAL ATC tower situated on the other side of the terminal.

The Terminal

Now we reached the Airport around 0900hrs and the security was quite surprised to see us. Looks like they were not expecting anyone. We were made to wait right besides the old terminal for around 15 minutes. The old terminal is in quite a derelict state now as you can see. There was a solitary guard, guarding the premises. Was a sad site to see. It was so much better in its hay days. After sometime, a "FOLLOW ME" jeep of HAL-ATC services came and we were asked to follow that jeep. We went inside, past the VIP terminal, across the Hawk and LCA hangars and then crossed the Runway. Since it was a holiday, there was no HAL flying scheduled. Even ASTE was not flying. We parked inside the ATC complex and made our way up the building to third floor where Approach Control was located. Now this was a little different from what we had been exposed to previously. We were told that since the movements have dropped from around 400 a day to just about 100 odd a day, the approach and tower control was now manned by the same set of ATCO's. There were operations that were going on and the controller was controlling several flights. There was an LCD monitor with radar type screen infront of him that displayed information about the flights that he was controlling. At the time we were there, he was controlling SriLankan 172 to Colombo, Jet Airways ATR to Trivandrum and Spicejet to Chennai. The ATR was climbing at a leisure speed and the spicejet was climbing like a rocket. This the ATCO commented to his colleague as well. His colleague responded that spicejet was headed to Chennai, that's why he wanted to reach his cruising altitiue ASAP. After a visit there, we moved a story higher to the Tower. The tower provided an amazing view of the apron, the runway as well as the Bengaluru city as well. Snaps accompanied.

HAL VIP Terminal

Some of the GA aircrafts

Views from the ATC tower

Bangalore city as seen from the tower

01112010434

THE RUNWAY

01112010429
Since there was not much of an activity going on, the ATC was pretty idle. Meanwhile a Cessna Grand Caravan, VT-JWL requested for startup, taxi and takeoff.

He was promptly cleared and we had the pleasure to view the entire event from the tower. Now since there was nothing else to do, we made our way back into the waiting company bus and headed back to out organisation. We were again led by the "FOLLOW ME" jeep across the runway, past all the hangars and till the gate. So that was pretty much it.

Comments welcome!!
Shivendra

Nimish · Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:08 pm Post subject:

This was a cool report - thanks for posting. It's sad to see HAL not being put to full use, but I guess given the zero scope of expansion there, it's not surprising...
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nice report, Shivendra! This is quite a unique genre of reports: not an air trip, spotting trip to an airport, not a spotting trip to a hitherto-unopened terminal - this is very much an airside trip to what was once a busy place. Nice pics, and descriptions, thank you!
Cheers, Sumantra.

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Too bad you went on a holiday.
Must have felt weird seeing HAL like that!
Interesting TR thanks.
_________________
eP007

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Nice Airport Report.

HAWK21M · Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:21 pm Post subject:

Nice report shivendra.
Those pics brought back memories.
The view loks fantastic from the tower.
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!

shivendrashukla · Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone for the appreciation. Views from the tower were indeed beautiful. Unfortunately i was carrying only my cell phone n hence the not so clear pics.

Cheers
Shivendra

TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

So os it that BLR approach control is even now with HAL or hasnt it shifted to BIAL??? May be it is the overflying control???