Known as Fixed Base Operator, this will be the country’s first centre exclusively for general aviation (flights other than scheduled airline and defence flights). Currently, there are nearly 100 general aviation aircraft in India and considering the number of applications pending with the DGCA, this number is likely to go up to 300 in coming years.

“Our basic idea is that a business class flyer need not waste time travelling across the city. He or she can alight at the airport and complete meetings here itself. Also, a person who spends a huge amount of money travelling in chartered planes would want equally good facilities at the airport too,” said a Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) spokesperson.

General aviation grew at 22 per cent in 2007-08 at IGIA, which recorded nearly 10,000 aircraft movements. These include smaller chartered planes carrying 8-15 passengers and private jets.

The facility will have special lounges, conferencing facilities, arrangements for rental cars, catering and hotel reservations. A separate check-in is also being planned for these passengers to further save time and to provide them with hassle-free travel. The chartered planes will be refuelled here and other maintenance facilities will also be offered.

The term Fixed Base Operator comes from North America (See box). There are roughly 5,245 such centres in the United States. In India, at present, no airport offers this kind of facility.

Fixed Base Operator: A short history
A fixed base operator, also known as fixed base of operation or FBO, is a service centre at an airport that may be a private enterprise or may be a department of the municipality that the airport serves.

The concept came into being with the increase in the number of general aviation flights. In the early days of aviation in the US, there were no airports. "Barn-stormers" were pilots who performed aerobatic shows and landed in farmers' fields, moving across the country as travelling performers. Mechanics and flight instructors followed the shows, offering their services. As aviation matured, airports were built and businesses sprang up around them. Repair stations, flight instructors, charter operators and fuel suppliers could now be found permanently at these "fixed bases". A need was felt to distinguish between those who were offering services at a fixed base and those who were acting independently. Thus, the term Fixed Base Operator was born.