Nashik Airport is located at Ozar, northeast of the city ofNashik, Maharashtra, India. It is owned by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which uses the airport primarily to develop, test and build aircraft for the Indian Armed Forces. It is home to a maintenance station of the Indian Air Force and also supports wide body commercial cargo services. A new passenger terminal was inaugurated on 3 March 2014. It serves Nashik Metropolitan Region as well as North Maharashtra Region. It is one of the fastest growing airports in terms of passengers and cargo not only in Maharashtra but also in India. It has one of the longest runways in India.
History
The airfield was built in 1964, when the HAL's Aircraft Division at Nasik commenced licensed manufacturing of the Fighter Aircraft MiG-21FL. Other aircraft built here include MiG-21M, MiG-21 BIS, MiG-27 M, Su 30 MKI aircraft. Kingfisher Airlines commenced scheduled services to Mumbai in 2008 but ended in November 2009 due to poor response. Hindustan Aeronautics announced the launch of commercial air cargo operations from Ozar airport on 20 September 2011. The cargo services are managed by HALCON, a joint working group between HAL, state-run Container Corporation and Clarion Solutions. The airport is capable of handling large aircraft like the Antonov AN-124s after having creating additional parking space and medical facilities. Clarion Solutions will be the cargo terminal operator. In 2011, HAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra for an Upgradation of Ozar Airport. This involves The Airport Terminal Project worth 84 crores. The state government will pay 74 crores of the terminal project cost and HAL will fund the remaining Rs 10 crore. After coming on the DGCA's air map, HAL is now in the process of appointing a private company to develop, to operate and maintain the airport terminal at Ozar on a revenue sharing basis. Scheduled passenger air service to Nashik was revived after a gap of eight years when Air Deccan commenced operations to Mumbai and Pune on 23 December 2017 under the UDAN scheme.
Ojhar Air Force Station
11 Base Repair Depot, one of the eight base repair depots of the Indian Air Force under overall control and supervision of the Maintenance Command, Nagpur is based at Ozar. It was established in 1975 and is an ISO 9001:2000 certified maintenance facility. It conducts overhaul programmes for the IAF's MiG-21, MiG-23s and MiG-29s.
Terminal
The new terminal building, spread over 22 acres with 8,267 sq metrebuilt-up area can accommodate 300 passengers. The adjoining apron can handle up to six aircraft. The bhoomipujan ceremony of the terminal was performed by PWD Minister and Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on 2 January 2012 and the terminal was inaugurated on 3 March 2014 by the then Union minister for the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel. The key terminal areas include departure lobby, check-in counters, security, holding and VIP areas, retail, airport administration and airlines offices, flying and ground crew services, physically challenged friendly and childcare facilities, dedicated smoking areas. The airport boasts of modern systems like integrated baggage handling, Flight Information Display Systems, CCTVs, public address and voice annunciation systems, access control, Building Management System, Fire and Safety Systems, and Terminal Control Center.
