Hello, Goa's recognized authority from the Navy, To begin with let me congratulate you for being a rare breed of very sucessful Goans. I hope you are invited as chielf guest at many Goan events as you can be a real role model for our Goan youth.
Thanks for your response and information. As you can well understand, my only interest in these Goa-specific topics is educational. I do not have an opinion or an economic interest on the issue of the Dablolim, etc. But the posts on Navy, Dabolim and other Goa-specific issues intrigue me. Cyber-Goans strongly object to "urban-legends" and rightly so. Yet we do not object to "Goa-legends" which you have well characterized. Is this supposed to be "Goenkarachem pirachit".:=)) In my supurlem Goenkar's mind, there must be busy-time for air flights during "tourist-season"; and during this period, high-utilization during certain days of the week and peak time during certain time of the day. These peaks and valleys in air traffic are known well in advance. So what is so difficult to coordinate? Is Dabolim the first / only airport to face the dilemma of utilization and scheduling? I am sure you know many of the following statistics. But for the benefit of the general readership, here are some statistics of a medium size airport in the USA - Ft. Lauderdale (FLL). It is the younger sister of Miami International Airport. Goa's relationship to Mumbai International can be developed to a similar relationship as Fort Lauderdale's. A Typical DAY at FLL airport: - 663 commercial flights - 201 private plane flights - 57,039 passengers - 7,500 workers - 28,000 airport restaurant meals - 450,000 gallons of jet fuel - 8,000 parked cars - 492 tons of airfreight and mail - 12 calls by private air ambulance - 2,296 runway and taxiway lights illuminated ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE COUNTY - 20.8 million passengers per year - 179,608 tons of air cargo per year - More than $2.3 billion annual economic contribution - Largest employer in Broward County with nearly 10,500 employees - Additional 21,000 jobs through ancillary services For more information, the readers, please look up their and other web sites. Hope the above facts are helpful to those who want to see Goa progress. If Goans do not step to the plate for progress the "bhaile" will do it for them! The world does not stay still, just because its "Amchem Bangarachem Goem". Kind Regards, GL Goa's recognized authority from the Navy: Dear Lawrence, Well, here is retired Navy brass writing in response, solely to you and not to goanet! You must have already read about 70 anti Navy posts written by someone who is not even a Goan, - Philip Thomas, on that forum. You must have also read some statements by polliticians recently stating that the Navy should leave Dabolim. Well, let me tell you most emphatically, that all the information about the Navy's hindrance to civil aviation in Goa is misinformation. Let me put things into perspective. ............... I am just about fed up of reading most of the rubbish which appears on goanet from time to time, so have decided to hold my peace. Besides I have no intention of aggravating my hypertension. So you are free to use this information, but please do not bring me into the discussion......... The wishes of this authoritative source are honored, and I thank him for his response - GL
