Thanjavur Air Force Station

Thanjavur Air Force Station (IATA: TJV, ICAO: VOTJ)[1] of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is located in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to a No. 222 squadron of the IAF's Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft - the first IAF fighter squadron in Tamil Nadu.[3] The facility was expected to start functioning by 2012.[4] However, the schedule was delayed[5] and the airbase was inaugurated on 27 May 2013 by then Defence Minister A. K. Antony. As of 2019 it operates a squadron of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI.[6]

Thanjavur Air Force Station

Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorIndian Air Force
LocationThanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Elevation AMSL253 ft / 77 m
Coordinates10°43′20″N 079°06′05″E
Map
TJV
TJV
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 3,500 11,483 Concrete
14/32 1,450 4,757 Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passenger movements500
Aircraft movements75
Source: DAFIF[1][2]

History

The airfield was used by the Royal Air force during World War II as a base for its Lockheed Hudson, Vickers Wellington, Hawker Hurricane, and P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft. After the war the airfield was handed over to the government for civilian use and eventually came under the jurisdiction of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In the early '90s, Thanjavur was connected with Chennai via the Vayudoot Flight Service, which was stopped due to poor patronage. The IAF took over the airfield in March 1990. During the heavy floods in Tamil Nadu in November 2008, IAF helicopters operating from Thanjavur dropped 15,000 kg of relief materials to the affected areas.[7]

Facilities

The airport is situated at an elevation of 253 feet (77 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways with concrete surfaces: 07/25 measuring 5,680 by 150 feet (1,731 m × 46 m) and 14/32 measuring 4,757 by 150 feet (1,450 m × 46 m).[1] Recent aerial photography only shows extension of Runway 07/25 to 9000 feet with parallel taxiway and aprons under construction.[8]

References
  1. Airport information for VOTJ from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. Airport information for TJV at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  3. Feb 28, TNN | Updated; 2019; Ist, 4:37. "Sulur air base to get one more LCA squadron | Coimbatore News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 September 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. "Thanjavur Air Force base to be a major one soon". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  5. "Delay in Completion of Strategic Air Force Projects". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  6. Feb 28, TNN | Updated; 2019; Ist, 4:37. "Sulur air base to get one more LCA squadron | Coimbatore News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 September 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96238
  8. Aerial image of Thanjavur Air Force Station. Google Maps. Accessed 24 March 2013.


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