
Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) marked a significant milestone on Sunday as it successfully conducted its first commercial flight validation test. An Indigo Airlines A320 aircraft landed on runway 08/26 and was greeted with a traditional water salute by two crash fire tenders, symbolizing the progress toward the airport becoming fully operational.
Senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), and other key stakeholders were present to witness the historic moment.
Jeet Adani, Director of Airports at the Adani Group, lauded the team for their efforts, calling NMIA a “gateway to goodness.” The successful landing validates the synchronization of Instrument Approach Procedures at NMIA and marks a key step in obtaining the aerodrome license required to begin commercial operations.
Technical Validation and Future Steps
The flight validation exercise included technical assessments, landing, and take-off maneuvers. This followed a series of preparatory activities, including the flight calibration of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). The data collected will be analyzed by DGCA for final validation, after which NMIA will publish its established flight procedures in the Electronic Aeronautical Information Publication.
The recent validation flight builds upon the inaugural landing of an Indian Air Force C-295 tactical airlifter on October 11, further solidifying NMIA’s readiness for full-scale operations.
Development and Capacity
Developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL), a special-purpose vehicle under Adani Airports Holdings Limited, the greenfield airport project operates on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. The ownership structure includes Mumbai International Airport Limited (74%) and CIDCO (26%).
The airport, being developed in phases, will have the capacity to manage over 90 million passengers annually upon completion. The initial phase aims to accommodate 20 million passengers and handle cargo of 8 lakh tonnes per year.
Scheduled Opening
NMIA is scheduled to commence operations in early 2025, positioning itself as a crucial hub for India’s aviation sector and a key player in bolstering regional connectivity.The success of the validation test marks a significant step forward in India’s infrastructure development, with NMIA set to become one of the country’s largest and most advanced airports.
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