 "BSF adds part of Guwahati airport as its airbase")
In a bid to bolster central armed police forces’ air support capabilities in Northeastern region, Border Security Force’s (BSF) air wing has added Guwahati as its new airbase with taking over of a hangar at new apron area of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport in Guwahati yesterday. This move is expected to help central armed forces in better troops’ deployment during disaster management, especially during floods and counter insurgency operations in the region.
This hangar and associated aerodrome facilities would enable BSF to undertake independent maintenance and flying operation of MI-17 V5 aircraft on short notice. This would also facilitate emergency medical evacuation of critical central armed police force personnel.
Union home ministry has approved operation of three MI-V5 helicopters, of Russian origin, from this airbase, a BSF press release stated.
BSF has its frontier headquarter at Patgaon, near Guwahati, and development of an airbase in close proximity is expected to enhance its operational capabilities.
Prior to this, BSF had been operating various types of aircraft from New Delhi, Ranchi, Raipur, Agartala and Srinagar airbases. Flying trials have already been conducted successfully from Guwahati airport.
This airlift facility, which is under the administrative and functional control of BSF is aimed at providing air support to all central armed forces. This airbase is also aimed to extend support towards operations and maintenance of other aircrafts, ministry of home affairs, transiting this region.