Sri Lanka’s main international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is scheduled to partially close in 2017 for three months to carry out maintenance work on the runway, Civil Aviation Authority Director General (DG) H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times on Friday.
He noted that this would be decided early since airlines need to be informed one year ahead of such closures.
In this respect, he pointed out that this would be the first time such overlaying or re-surfacing would be carried out on the runway at the BIA since its construction in 1986.
This would amount to a closure of the airport operations for eight hours per day for a period of three months, the DG said.
Mr. Nimalsiri said that re-surfacing would be carried out on the runway due to the wear and tear on it and since the friction level on it could come down over use throughout the years and also due to loose elements as well.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Update: Five of the twelve passengers on board the bell 212 aircraft that crashed into the Maduru Oya today, have succumbed to their injuries, the SLAF said.
Leave Comments