Latest news with #PakistanCivilAviationAuthority
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Karachi Airport's main runway upgrade reaches 53%, says PCAA
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) on Wednesday announced that the upgradation of Runway 07L/25R at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) has reached 53% completion by the end of May 2025, exceeding the planned target of 51%. 'The project, which began in July 2024, is progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed by January 2026,' PCAA said in a statement. The authority informed that double shift operations are ongoing at the site 'to ensure timely delivery of this vital national infrastructure'. PCAA shared that a key milestone was achieved with the arrival of the first shipment of imported Airfield Lighting (AFL) equipment at the project site. 'In preparation for the deployment of this advanced system, PAA engineers have successfully completed training abroad,' it said. 'Valued at Rs8.3 billion, the JIAP Runway Upgradation Project reflects the Authority's commitment to enhancing airport infrastructure across Pakistan,' it added. Once completed, the upgrade will allow Karachi Airport to achieve Category 4F status, making it capable of handling wide-body aircraft with higher operational requirements. This upgrade is expected to attract both domestic and international airlines to operate at JIAP in the future. Upon completion of the upgrade, it will feature the latest energy-efficient LED CAT-I Airfield Lighting System with runway centreline lights. The project also includes an extension of the runway by 1,000 feet, making it 11,500 feet. Reconstruction of taxiways and overruns at both ends, and asphaltic overlay of four taxi links near the 07L end.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
In need of extensive repairs after Indian airstrikes, Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway closure extended till June 6
Pakistan has extended the closure of the sole runway at its Rahim Yar Khan airbase—hit and damaged by India's military strikes last Saturday (May 10)—till the morning of June 6. On the day of the airstrike, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority had issued a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, saying that the runway at the airbase will be unavailable for flight operations for a week—till 4:59 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on Sunday (May 18). However, according to a new NOTAM that has replaced the previous notice, now the runway will not be available till 4:59 am Pakistan time on June 6. This indicates that the extensive runway repairs needed after India's precision strikes may be taking longer than earlier anticipated. Like the previous NOTAM, the new notice also said that closure is due to work in progress, without going into specifics, and that the runway will not be available for flight operations. Rahim Yar Khan, which is in the southern part of Pakistan's Punjab province and faces the Rajasthan frontier, has a dual-purpose airport—it is home to a forward operational base of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Central Air Command and the Sheikh Zayed International Airport. Satellite images released by the Indian armed forces in the days that followed the airstrike show a large and deep crater in the middle of the Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway caused by an Indian airstrike. Satellite imagery also showed extensive damage to a building at the airbase. 'RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPERATION WIP.,' stated the initial as well as the latest NOTAM about Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), use of the code 'WIP' in a NOTAM refers to work in progress. As per the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 'WIP' describes any work being done on the airport surface. Given that the NOTAM specifically mentions the runway at the airbase, it indicates that work in progress is on the runway itself. The airbase's sole runway—Runway 01/19—has a bituminous surface and is 3,000 metres or 9,843 feet in length, per airport data available on Flightradar24. The airbase was one the multiple key Pakistani military targets that India hit amid a military conflict that lasted four days, before the two nuclear-powered neighbours arrived at a ceasefire understanding on the evening of May 10. The airbase was among the six Pakistani military targets hit on May 10—Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Sukkur and Juniya being the other five—by India using 'air-launched precision weapons' from Indian fighter aircraft. The Indian response followed Pakistan's 'escalatory' and 'provocative' actions in which it attempted air intrusions at multiple locations, which were thwarted by the Indian armed forces. India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting in decades in the wake of India's precision strikes at nine terror infrastructure locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of 'Operation Sindoor' in the wee hours on May 7. These strikes were in response to the deadly attack at Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 people, almost all of them tourists, were gunned down by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Following India's precision strikes at terror infrastructure early on May 7, the tensions saw a major escalation with Pakistan launching drone and missile attacks against India all along the Line of Control and the international border, and India neutralising Pakistani attacks and retaliating with strikes at Pakistani military assets in various parts of that country. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Following India's airstrike, Pakistan declares Rahim Yar Khan airbase's sole runway non-operational for a week
After India's military strike at the Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan's Punjab province, the sole runway at the airbase has been declared as non-operational for a week, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) Saturday evening, and reviewed by The Indian Express. The NOTAM took effect at 4 pm Pakistan time (4:30 pm IST) on Saturday (May 10) and will be in effect at least till 4:59 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on May 18. The NOTAM said that closure is due to work in progress, without going into specifics, and that it will not be available for flight operations. The temporary closure of this important airbase in the southern part of Pakistan's Punjab province and the timing and duration of the closure lends credence to reports that claimed that the facility's runway was directly hit by an Indian missile, and needed extensive repair work. 'RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPERATION WIP.,' the NOTAM stated. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), use of the code 'WIP' in a NOTAM refers to work in progress. As per the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 'WIP' describes any work being done on the airport surface. Given that the NOTAM specifically mentions the runway at the airbase, it indicates that work in progress is on the runway itself. The Rahim Yar Khan airbase also houses the Sheikh Zayed International airport. Its sole runway—Runway 01/19—has a bituminous surface and is 3,000 metres or 9,843 feet in length, per airport data available on Flightradar24. The airbase was one the multiple key Pakistani military targets that India hit amid a military conflict that lasted four days, before the two nuclear-powered neighbours arrived at a ceasefire understanding on Saturday evening. The airbase was among the six Pakistani military targets hit on Saturday—Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Sukkur and Juniya being the other five—by India using 'air-launched precision weapons' from Indian fighter aircraft. The Indian response followed Pakistan's 'escalatory' and 'provocative' actions in which it attempted air intrusions at multiple locations, which were thwarted by the Indian armed forces. India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting in decades in the wake of India's precision strikes at nine terror infrastructure locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of 'Operation Sindoor' in the wee hours on Wednesday. These strikes were in response to the deadly attack at Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 people, almost all of them tourists, were gunned down by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Following India's precision strikes at terror infrastructure early on Wednesday, the tensions saw a major escalation with Pakistan launching drone and missile attacks against India all along the Line of Control and the international border, and India neutralising Pakistani attacks and retaliating with strikes at Pakistani military assets in various parts of that country. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
Saba Yemen
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Pakistan announces full reopening of airspace to all flights
Islamabad - Saba: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced on Saturday the complete reopening of the country's airspace to all domestic and international flights, marking a return to normal aviation operations following recent regional tensions. In a statement carried by Pakistan's Samaa TV, the authority confirmed that all airports across the country are now fully operational and available for scheduled flights. The PCAA noted that Pakistani airspace is currently fully open to all flights, emphasizing that aviation operations have returned to pre-restriction levels. This development comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump earlier announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a complete and immediate ceasefire in a post on his Truth Social platform. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pakistan opens its airspace after ceasefire announcement, but Indian aircraft still not allowed to overfly
Following the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday, Islamabad has withdrawn the closure of Pakistani airspace to civil aircraft operations, as per a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) Saturday evening. Earlier on Saturday, following a major escalation in tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, Pakistan had issued NOTAMs announcing the closure of its airspace at least till 12 pm Pakistan time (1230 pm IST) on Sunday, May 11. The new NOTAM issued in the evening cancelled the earlier notices issued on Saturday. Notably though, the ban on Indian airlines and Indian aircraft from the Pakistani airspace, which was imposed from the evening of April 24, remains in place as the status of that NOTAM showed as 'Valid' on the PCAA's database. India's ban on Pakistani airlines and aircraft in its airspace also remains in place. Following a major escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan that saw the neighbouring countries launching multiple strikes at each other's military installations overnight and on Saturday morning, Islamabad had initially issued a NOTAM announcing closing of its airspace to all aircraft from 3:15 am to 12 pm (Pakistan time) Saturday. It subsequently issued another NOTAM, saying that the airspace will remain shut till Sunday noon. Late Friday, India had announced temporary closure of 32 airports across northern and western India for civil aircraft operations till 5:29 am IST on May 15. In the wake of India's precision strikes at nine locations in Pakistan as part of 'Operation Sindoor' in the wee hours on Wednesday, New Delhi had announced closure of around 25 airports—close to the India-Pakistan border or housed at key Indian Air Force bases—initially till Saturday 5:29 am in order to keep civilian air traffic away from potential harm. But with tensions escalating and Pakistan resorting to large-scale drone and missile attacks at Indian military installations in northern and western India, and India's proportionate military response to Pakistan, the temporary closure of airports was extended, and a few more airports were added to the list. However, prior to Saturday, Pakistan had not shut its airspace or airports to civil aircraft operations, even as it repeatedly mounted drone and missile attacks against India over the past few days. India on Friday and Saturday hit out at Pakistan for using civilian aircraft as 'shields' as it allowed these to operate close to the international border with India, even as both countries were engaged in a military conflict in the region. But that changed overnight after India 'engaged with' Pakistan's military targets at six locations—Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Juniya—using 'air-launched precision weapons' from Indian fighter aircraft. The Indian response followed Pakistan's 'escalatory' and 'provocative' actions in which it attempted air intrusions at multiple locations, which were thwarted by the Indian armed forces. Most international airlines were already avoiding overflying the Pakistani airspace amid soaring tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. Prior to the closure of the Pakistani airspace on Saturday, most of the commercial flight activity there was largely limited to domestic flights or some international flights to and from Pakistani airports.
