Pathankot

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ICAO Code VIPK/IXP
Last Validated Feb 2009
City Pathankot
Position 32°14'02"N 075°38'05"E
Runway(s) 01/19
Elevation 1017 ft

General

Pathankot is a northern Punjabi air base. There is also a small civil terminal accepting about one flight each day.

Layout

The airfield has a north south runway. Peculiar feature is the southwest shelter area which is on the other side of the river connected by a bridge. The northwest holds another shelter area. The small civil ramp and terminal is situated on the southeast side. The base is surrounded by farmland, rivers, military terrain and farmland. Hard to find good spots here. The terminal is walled of with a closed and guarded gate and they only allow you in a couple of hours before and after a scheduled flight.

Getting There

There is basically only one way to get here by car and that is to follow the NH1A from Jalandhar in the direction of Jammu. After crossing the river into Pathankot, make a left and a left again after about 500 metres. You will then be in a rather obscure street running slightly up hill between small shops. After crossing the railway you are on the access road to the airport.
The only other way to get here is by taking a flight which are rather infrequent routeing from Chandigarh mostly.

Around the Airport

1Southeast side approach

For this spot, do not follow the access road to the airport terminal but take the smaller road forking off to the left after you have passed the railway. This is a gravel road for the first bit but becomes paved after about 2 kilometres after passing a quarry related build-up area. Shortly after you will actually reach the eastern perimeter wall of the terminal. Immediately after that, make a right. Another quarry is in front of you. You can leave the car and walk for about 20 minutes towards the approach or just go for it by car, believe me it is reachable...
Anyway, you are close to the approach, and it is great with morning light. You will attract lots of attention of the people working in the quarry though.

2Northeast approach

The north side offers little to no obvious possibilities. The south side of the through road is mainly occupied by military terrain and other walled off premises. There is a small patch of barren land and farmland just before the approach, but in 2009 access to the that patch could not be found.

3South side approach - distant

An alternative to spot 1 can be found by following the road further south. At one point there is a street right leading to an estate. You can drive past that and reach the river bank. Most of the MiG-21 will make a long approach, so you should be okay here. The spot itself was found, but no flying activity so no real verification.

Frequencies

122.700Approach & Tower

Based Operators

26sq
Warriors
MiG-21bison
126HU
Gladiators
Mi-35

Other Airfields

Adampur  
Agra  
Ambala  
Bangalore (Hindustan)  
Bhatinda (Bhisiana)  
Bidar AFS  
Chandigarh  
Dundigal AFS  
Goa - Dabolim/INS Hansa  
Hakimpet AFS  
Halwara  
Hyderabad - R.Ghandi Intl / Begumpet AFS  
Jodhpur  
Pathankot  
Pune - Lohegahon / Pune AFS  
Pune - National Defence Academy gliderdrome  
Yelahanka AFS  

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