On Airports and Flying High Quote of the Day *If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading* - Lao Tzu
*Dear Friends,* *The above slogan reflects very truly on the state of affairs– if we do not stand up to what’s not right and allow things to continue as they are we could very much be heading for disaster. * * * *India<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=cc024d4ec6&e=896493248f> *’s *Ministry of Environment and Forests* (MoEF) standing committee of the *National Board for Wildlife* recommended the *City and Industrial Development Corporation*, the agency leading the development of *Navi Mumbai International Airport<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=6ef3738384&e=896493248f> *, set aside a portion of the project costs to provide a fixed deposit, the interest of which could be used as compensation for potential environmental impacts (*Gulf News*, 31-Jul-2013). The MoEF recently cleared the development of the airport, after an issue was raised that it violated the required 10km minimum distance from the Kerala Bird Sanctuary. Airspace above the bird sanctuary will be off limits for aircraft arriving/departing from the new airport. Airport Construction Airports Authority of India<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=8469aa3e29&e=896493248f>(AAI) presented its draft report on the proposal to develop Juhu aerodrome into a major airport (*Hindustan Times*, 02-Aug-2013). AAI raised objections that the proposed relocation and extension of the airport’s runways would require the demolition of residential areas and two hotels. It also noted airport operations would be curtailed when Mumbai International Airport<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=a34f25bd41&e=896493248f>’s cross runway was in operation. Further objections were raised over the extension of the runway onto Juhu beach, with the AAI noting that regulatory approval for such an extension would prove challenging. *India*<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=f2c6a8e273&e=896493248f>'s *Mumbai International Airport Limited<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=81ecb14d83&e=896493248f> * (MIAL) welcomed the approval by Indian authorities to approve the development of the hospitality district project at *Mumbai International Airport<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=ef6774097e&e=896493248f> * (*IANS*, 01-Aug-2013). The Indian *Cabinet Committee on Investment* (CCI) recently cleared security issues related to developments at Mumbai<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=9a5bfb8bb9&e=896493248f>and *Delhi<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=eddb7dc289&e=896493248f> * airports, allowing them to proceed ahead after earlier objections from a number of security organisations. *India<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=a4d956d502&e=896493248f> *'s *Ministry of Civil Aviation<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=3c602e5649&e=896493248f> * reportedly plans to accelerate the privatisation of *Chennai<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=72989230fe&e=896493248f> *, *Kolkata<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=2fb8f6e919&e=896493248f> *, *Ahmedabad<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=bc6692822b&e=896493248f> *, *Jaipur<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=bbdfb7c0a6&e=896493248f> *, *Lucknow<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=a471172e81&e=896493248f> * and *Guwahati<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=076358d5bb&e=896493248f> * airports (*Hindustan Times/Livemint.com*, 01-Aug-2013). Finalisation of the privatisation of the airports is now targeted for the end of 2013, three months earlier than the original timetable. The *Airports Authority of India<http://centreforaviation.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9fd45cab90f09a9a18b2618c7&id=9302e14efb&e=896493248f> * will reportedly maintain a 26% stake in all the airports, with private players bidding for the majority stake. Civil aviation and public sector unions have opposed the privatisation plans. Why should land be acquired from the general public, farmers, destroying our Environment to build airports at the tax payers expenses and then privatise these airports? Why should huge swathes of land be handed to hoteliers, real estate sharks, in the name of “development”? Whose development”?