The Department of Civil Aviation negotiated with Defence Ministry for a reduction in use of Yangon International Airport for military purpose, according to the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA).

“We negotiated with the Ministry of Defence for the use of Yangon International Airport when Tatmadaw (Air) flies helicopters and military planes,” Deputy Director-General Ye Htut Aung told The Daily Eleven.

Flights were delayed at Yangon International Airport as Tatmadaw-owned Y8 plane skidded off the runway on September 5.

The plane skidded off the runway at about 10.36 am on September 5 due to an engine failure, but no one was injured.

Yangon International Airport is used not only for civilian purpose but also for the military. The Air Force of Myanmar is using Yangon International Airport for its training of planes and helicopters. For that reason, the civilian planes have to give priority to military ones in the take-off and landing in the airport.

The Yangon International Airport is being used not only for civilian but also for military purposes. Therefore, the DCA negotiated with the Ministry of Defence to urge Tatmadaw to reduce the take-off and landing of military planes and helicopters.

“At present, air traffic is busy in the domestic flight departure period at Yangon International Airport. Mingaladon is very busy in air traffic. There is only one runway and only a taxiway, either. We are using the airport together with Air Force. Planes don’t consume much fuel while they are traveling. A regional jet consumes about 30 gallons per minute while it is flying in circles in the air.  It is wasting jet fuel.    It will be okay if we have two or three runways,” said a senior pilot from the domestic airline.

Yangon International Airport had to be closed for several hours because Tatmadaw-owned Y8 plane skidded off the runway on September 5 and investigation would be conducted, the Ministry of Transport and Communications reported on September 16.

Translated and Edited by Win Htut