Quilon Aerodrome

Quilon Aerodrome or Kollam Airport was an aerodrome in the city of Kollam in the former state of Travancore, now in Kerala, India.[1] During the 1920s, there were no other civil aerodromes in the kingdoms of Cochin, Travancore and the Malabar District at the time of the British ruled Madras Presidency. With the commissioning of Trivandrum International Airport in 1932 at state capital 57 kilometres (35 mi) to the south, the aerodrome fell into disuse and came to be known as the Asramam Maidan.

Quilon Aerodrome

കൊല്ലം വിമാനനിലയം
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMadras Presidency (Till 1932)
OperatorKerala Public Works Department (PWD)
ServesKollam(Quilon)
LocationAsramam, Kollam
Closed1932
Time zoneIST (UTC+05:30)
Coordinates8.894°N 76.593°E / 8.894; 76.593
Map
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Location in Kollam, India
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct) (Kerala)
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct)
Kollam Aerodrome (defunct) (Kollam)

The landing strip of the aerodrome was strengthened with red laterite soil from the adjoining hills because the local loose soil was unsuitable for the purpose. There were no buildings in the aerodrome, however, a circular concrete pad for parking aircraft was built. The aerodrome was under the control of the Public Works Department (PWD). The aerodrome was also used for training operations. These were stopped when an accident involving a training aircraft at the boundary of the aerodrome, resulted in the death of the pilot and the trainee.[2]

Proposal for an Aviation Academy at Old Airport

During 2009 -2012, local authorities made plans to revive the aerodrome for a flying academy[3] with a 4,000 foot runway for light aircraft. However, since the site was now surrounded by several high-rising structures like buildings and cell phone towers and the proposal met with objections from the local population, the plans were discarded.[4]

Revival of airstrip plans

Government of Kerala started plans to set-up 10 airstrips in Kerala including one at Asramam Old Airport area. On February 2020, the state government submitted a feasibility study report to Civil Aviation Ministry of India in this regard.[5][6][7][8]

See also

References
  1. "National Cashew Day: Export celebrates 100 years; first export done from Kollam". Mathrubhumi. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  2. "Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response". The Hindu. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. "Runway: Team visits Asramam Maidan". TNIE. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. "'Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport'". TNIE. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. "Kerala plans airstrips to connect tourists spots". The Week. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. "Kerala may soon have a string of airstrips-heliports to connect tourists spots". Live Mint. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. "A CABLE OF RUNWAY-HELIPORT FOR CONNECTING TRAVELER PLACES IN KERALA SHORTLY". Sahiwal.tv. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. "Kerala plans airstrips to connect tourists spots". Yahoo News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.


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