The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has deployed a team to conduct an Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) survey at Rourkela airport as part of its plan to upgrade the facility to the Code 4C category, enabling the operation of larger aircraft. The survey, which was initially scheduled for April 15 to 22, was delayed by one day and is now set to begin.

On April 9, the AAI informed the state Commerce and Transport department about the deployment of three officials, including an associate consultant, senior GIS analyst, and GIS analyst, for the survey. This follows a request from the state government, communicated to the AAI chairman on February 15, to upgrade the airport for 4C CAT 1 IFR operations. This move was driven by the growth of Rourkela, a major steel city, and the need to accommodate larger aircraft. The state government agreed to bear the cost of the OLS survey and the development of a master plan for the expansion.

The proposed upgrade includes extending the runway to a length of 2,700 meters and a width of 45 metre. Additionally, a Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR) and CAT 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS) will be installed to support the operation of large aircraft such as the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737, both during the day and night.

On March 6, a meeting was held with senior officials from the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of SAIL, AAI, and the district administration to address land acquisition issues affecting the airport’s expansion. The successful completion of the OLS survey is seen as a crucial step towards realising the airport's planned upgrade.

News source: New Indian Express