MUSCAT, OCT 29 - Long-standing plans for the establishment of a new domestic airport in Musandam Governorate received fresh impetus at an ‘Introductory Meeting’ hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with local dignitaries and officials in Khasab yesterday.
Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, presided over the meeting, with his senior colleagues at the Ministry in attendance as well.
The proposed airport project — one of several ambitious transport-related initiatives on the anvil for implementation in the governorate — promises to be a game-changer for the region’s development, particularly in terms of unlocking its tourism and commercial potential.
The move builds on the Ministry’s efforts to explore the viability of building a greenfield airport as an alternative to the existing Khasab Airport, whose expansion is constrained by its location in the midst of high mountains.
Preliminary studies commissioned by the Ministry have since identified four potential sites in the governorate for the development of a full-fledged domestic gateway. The locations include Bukha, Lima, and Al Harf, besides Khasab itself.
At the ‘Introductory Meeting’, officials laid out a two-phase consultancy study leading to recommendations for a greenfield airport, as well as the construction of two airstrips in the governorate. Phase 1 of the consultancy plan will focus on a plan for the setting up of airstrips at Daba and Mad’ha.
Provisional studies conducted at Daba envision the potential for a roughly 700-metre-long and 22-metre wide airstrip suitable primarily for helicopter-based flights, the Ministry said. Shortcomings that would need to be tackled include potential impediments in the construction of an Air Control Tower, as well as cliffs along the approach end of the airfield. Part of the selected consultant’s brief is to weigh options for expanding the airstrip to allow for winged aircraft to operate in the future. Alternative locations may be proposed as well.
In Mad’ha, a proposed location identified in previous studies has the potential to accommodate a roughly 850-metre-long airstrip, designed initially for helicopter based operations. However, obstacles that need to be addressed include the presence of mountains, high voltage pylons and buildings on one side of the strip.
In Phase 2 of the study, the selected consultant will evaluate the pros and cons of building a regional airport in each of the proposed locations — Bukha, Lima and Al Harf — in addition to identifying other potential sites. The consultant will advise the government on the most advantageous location — from the geographical, technical, aeronautical and financial standpoints — for setting up a modern gateway.
The new Musandam Airport is proposed to feature a runway, taxiway, terminal, and service and hangar area suitable for the handling of up to Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 size aircraft.
Conrad Prabhu
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