INS Rajali
| INS Rajali ராஜாளி கடற்படை விமான தளம் | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Indian Navy Tu-142 and IL-38SD at INS Rajali | |||
| IATA: none – ICAO: VOAR | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Naval Air Station | ||
| Operator | Indian Navy | ||
| Location | Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 265 ft / 81 m | ||
| Coordinates | 13°04′16″N 079°41′28″E / 13.07111°N 79.69111°ECoordinates: 13°04′16″N 079°41′28″E / 13.07111°N 79.69111°E | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 06/24 | 13,460 | 4,103 | Asphalt concrete |
INS Rajali, also informally known as Arakkonam Naval Air Station, (IATA: N/A, ICAO: VOAR) is an Indian naval air station located near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu in southern India. It has the longest military runway in Asia.[1]
History
The airfield at Arakkonam was constructed in early 1942, for use by Allies of World War II. The first recorded air operations from the field took place when the No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force, flying Westland Lysander aircraft flew support missions for the British Indian Army between May and Sep 1942.
The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, when the Indian Air Force moved its operations to Tambaram, 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Chennai, where its Flying Instructor's School and an An-32 transport squadron are based.
In March 1988, the Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft of the INAS 312 squadron were phased out and replaced with Tupolev Tu-142MK-E (Bear F) aircraft, and the squadron was transitioned to anti-submarine warfare operations. The larger aircraft were hampered by the congestion at the squadron's home base of INS Hansa in Goa, which already based Sea Harrier, HJT-16 Kiran, Il-38, HAL Chetak and Ka-28 squadrons. The air field at Arakkonam was hence transferred to the Navy, rehabilitated and commissioned as INS Rajali on 11 March 1992.
INS Rajali now spans 2,320 acres (9.4 km2) and has the longest military runway in Asia.[2]
Units
As of 2010, INS Rajali is home to the navy's INAS 312 squadron which operates eight Tu-142MK-E aircraft. The aircraft are equipped for maritime patrol, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.
INS Rajali is also home to the navy's Helicopter Training School.
References
- ↑ Airport information for VOAR at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
- ↑ "Naval Air Stations". Indian Navy. Retrieved 2011-08-15.