PCAA mulls restoring flight operation at Walton Airport

Establishment of the new facility the national interest and 'not for profits'

KARACHI:

Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) is mulling plans to restore flight operation at the Lahore Flying Club, Walton Airport, which was suspended since May 25 this year, it emerged on Tuesday.

The airport was shut down due to concerns over its safety and all existing operators were instructed to shift their operations to the main airport until a new aerodrome was established, aviation expert Afsar Malik told The Express Tribune.

The Punjab government allocated 486 acres of the state land (near Muridke) to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as compensation for these 122 acres of land at Walton Aerodrome which it intends to lease out for commercial purposes.

The allocated land will be treated based on the available revenue record – 52 acres under the ownership of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and 70 acres with the Punjab government.Walton Aerodrome was established by a philanthropic group of aviators in 1930 with the name of ‘Punjab Flying Club’, which was renamed two years later as ‘North Indian Flying Club’.

The group initially acquired 158 acres of land and later Punjab Government transferred 260 acres of land to the then Government of India, Aviation Department for a period of 50 years for the purpose of Civil Aerodrome.

However, much of its land has been transferred already to defence departments for the construction of housing schemes, Afsar Malik said. A variety of aviation establishments had been operating here which included plant protection, flying schools, WAPDA aircraft fleet, sports aircraft and a small aircraft assembling plant.

The facility had to be shifted to another place because a great deal of CAA’s time and resources were being wasted in handling and monitoring a huge number of litigations in various courts, Malik explained.

Most important of all, safety and security arrangements for airfield and the operational areas had become a challenge due to frequent movements and activities of trespassers, violators and mischievous elements, particularly during flight operations, he added.

Therefore, the aerodrome, located in very close proximity to Allama Iqbal Airport, was deemed unsafe for operations.“CAA was not generating substantial revenue from Walton Aerodrome and it was rather a cost centre,” he said, adding that the establishment of a new facility financed by CAA will be done in the national interest and not for profits.