IAF activates Nyoma airfield close to China border

Though helicopters have been landing at this ALG,this is for the first time that a fixed wing aircraft has landed at the compacted airstrip of Nyoma,located 23 kms from the LAC.

After deliberating on all aspects and carrying out aerial and ground reccees,it was concluded that Nyoma could be developed for fixed wing operations as well,the spokesman said. Pointing out that the herculean task of developing the ALG to the standards required for fixed wing operations was undertaken by the Engineer Regiments of 14 Corps,he said that the successful landing of a fixed wing aircraft at Nyoma marks the culmination of joint effort by the IAF and Indian Army to enable IAF to operate in the inhospitable terrain of Leh – Ladakh region in support of the Army.

Joint development of Nyoma,braving the extremely difficult working conditions and hostile weather,is yet another step towards enhanced jointmanship between the two services,he said,adding that Nyoma has been developed with an aim to connect remote areas of Ladakh region to the mainland. This would also ensure that movement in the area continue when the road traffic gets affected during the harsh winters,besides enabling improved communication network in the region,facilitating economical ferrying of supplies as well as promotion of tourism to the general area.

The landing comes just 15 months after an AN-32 landed at Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO),the highest airfield in the world situated at an attitude of 16,200 feet.