Itanagar, Jan 27: Governor K T Parnaik on Monday called for activating all Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the state to their full potential, emphasizing their importance for both the armed forces and civilian use.
In a meeting with Air Marshal Surat Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Eastern Air Command, at Raj Bhavan here, Parnaik discussed enhancing air connectivity and the operational readiness of ALGs, an official communiqué informed.
The discussions also highlighted ways to utilize ALGs for improving tourism and connectivity in the region.
The governor suggested leveraging the IAF’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) infrastructure to facilitate civilian helicopter services, particularly to improve access to remote areas. He emphasized that these efforts would significantly contribute to the state’s tourism sector.
Looking ahead to the monsoon season, Parnaik advised the IAF to maintain high levels of preparedness to handle potential evacuations, disaster relief, and medical emergencies, as landslides during the rainy season often block roadways in the region.
Parnaik also urged the Eastern Air Command to conduct awareness campaigns to inspire and recruit more youth from Arunachal Pradesh into the Indian Air Force, promoting greater local representation in the defense forces.
Air Marshal Singh assured the governor that the issues would be addressed through the appropriate channels within the defense establishment, the communiqué added.