New Gwadar International Airport (NGIAP) achieved a significant milestone on June 4 after a calibration aircraft successfully test-landed at the facility, marking an important step forward for the project.
The airport is expected to become operational by the fourth quarter of this year.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) called this event a major achievement, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of Chinese and Pakistani teams in making it possible.
“The Flight Calibration and Flight Procedure Design milestone for the New Gwadar International Airport has been successfully achieved today with the successful test landing of the Calibration Aircraft on the newly constructed runway,” the PCAA said in a statement.
The calibration aircraft was ceremoniously welcomed with a water cannon salute by the Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Department of the PCAA.
The successful test landing of the calibration aircraft involved the PCAA’s technical directorates and its Flight Inspection Unit. These teams played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone swiftly and efficiently.
Flight calibration service operators routinely measure and calibrate the airways using flight calibration aircraft equipped with sophisticated flight inspection technology to ensure the operational readiness of the airport.
Gawadar airport
The New Gwadar International Airport, situated in Pakistan’s southwestern port city of Gwadar, is a greenfield airport designed to handle both domestic and international flights. This ambitious project is a joint venture involving Pakistan, Oman, and China, and is a crucial part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Spanning 4,300 acres, NGIAP is set to become one of the largest airports in Pakistan and will be the second in the nation capable of accommodating an A380 aircraft.
The completion and operational status of this airport are anticipated to have transformative effects on Gwadar and its surrounding areas, significantly boosting the local economy and improving the lives of people in the Balochistan province and the coastal region.
The development of NGIAP comes at a time when Pakistan is striving to attract foreign investment to stabilize its economy. The country has been actively seeking investments in key sectors such as minerals, agriculture, and tourism.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
CPEC is a key element of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, with investments exceeding $60 billion in Pakistan. This initiative aims to enhance infrastructure and energy cooperation between the two countries.