State against packing off Madras Flying Club

Chennai: The 80-year-old Madras Flying Club (MFC) is again caught up in hassles as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued a notice to vacate the land immediately for the ongoing airport expansion works.
MFC secretary K Sebastian Joseph said the institution has got a notice from AAI to vacate the campus in the airport premises for the straightening of Bravo’ taxi track used by aircraft to reach the Guindy-end of the main runway for take off. The taxiway running parallel to the main runway takes a sharp turn north and runs close to the main runway to avoid the apron of the old airport terminal, now used as a cargo terminal.
“A high-level meeting of officials of the state government and AAI in October, 2010 had agreed that the flying club will be maintained on the airport premises till we get an alternative location,” said Joseph. The latest move, he added, is the handiwork of a few vested interests to kill the 80-year-old club.
But the state government is reportedly backing MFC and it has taken a strong position that the club need not vacate the premises until it gets a suitable place and infrastructure.
08/02/11 Arun Janardhanan/Times of India