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Fresh bid to draw private jet operators to Ratmalana
View(s):Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd will refloat a request for proposals from international bidders to set up a private jet operation in Ratmalana. The tender was first advertised at the end of last year but attracted multiple calls for an extension of the closing date, said Aruna Rajapaksa, Airport Manager-Ratmalana. The Sri Lanka Air Force has already vacated an aircraft hangar and an area of one acre has also been set aside.
The development comes amidst criticism about the overseas departure of a private plane from China Bay domestic airport in Trincomalee this week. Carrying investors from Singapore, Hong Kong and China, the Gulfstream G550 business jet arrived via Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). But it left from the Sri Lanka Air Force-controlled airfield in the East despite civil aviation regulations decreeing that foreign aircraft shall only depart through an international airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) said this was a one-off exit authorised in advance by the Defence Ministry. Officials from the Department of Customs and the Department of Immigration and Emigration were brought in to the China Bay Harbour and due process was followed.
It was possible to occasionally permit such exits on request and upon requisite approvals being granted, said H M C Nimalsiri, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He admitted that the China Bay airfield was not gazetted for international departures but said this would be necessary if there were regular operations.
Both Immigration and Customs authorities confirmed that passengers on the flight were processed onsite by them. A similar process is followed at Ratmalana airport when private aircraft land there. Meanwhile, Ratmalana airport has been accommodating record numbers of corporate jets in recent years but has only been granted conditional approval by CAASL to cater to foreign private aircraft under 30 seat capacity.
“Ratmalana is also not gazetted as an international airport but is being used under this arrangement,” said Mr Nimalsiri. “To qualify, it must meet all safety requirements and international standards for regular, commercial flights carrying public. We are currently reviewing the aerodrome manual and it should be certified within two to three months.”
This coincides with AASL’s plans to set up a permanent private jet operation in Ratmalana. The bid envisages a fixed base operator (FBO) using the existing terminal until they complete building their own terminal. FBOs are private jet terminals at airports that offer a range of services to their customers, aircraft and crew.
“It is better for them to have their own terminal with sophisticated and modern facilities, including business lounges,” said Mr Rajapaksa. “That is why we are allocating bare land. We really want to find an experienced FBO and it is the very first time we are floating this type of bid.”
For instance, international corporate jets do not typically land at primary airports like BIA. They prefer smaller airports that they can move through faster. While Ratmalana is ideal for this, the infrastructure needs to be developed to cater to a more long-term initiative.
The most common corporate jets on the tarmac here are Gulfstreams and Cessnas. They can carry between 5 and 18 passengers.
| Airport and Aviation Services without a Board Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd has been without a Board of Directors since the beginning of the year. The previous directorate was asked to resign at the end of last year by new Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. But it was done without a new Board being in place.“When a new Minister comes in, we do normally see a change of Board,” said an industry source who did not wish to be named. “But a new Board is usually in place before the existing one is asked to resign. That is how one guarantees continuity.” “We now have a lapse without a directorate, leaving this massive company with no top management,” he said. “You need a Board in order to make decisions and to sign off on things.”The earlier Board – which is still erroneously on the AASL website – was headed by engineer S S Ediriweera. The Vice Chairman was Captain Milinda Ratnayake and the Executive Director was Johanne Jayaratne. | |