On March 18, 2024, Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter and transport aircraft conducted operations on an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) airstrip located on National Highway 16 near Addanki in Bapatla district. During the activation, Su-30 and Hawk fighters successfully performed overshoots, while An-32 and Dornier transport aircraft landed and then took off from the strip. This demonstration highlighted the effective coordination and collaboration among civil agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), district administration, state police, and the IAF in executing complex multifaceted activities.
Previously, a similar activation took place on December 29, 2022. The ELF airstrip, measuring 4.1 km in length and 33 m in width, was constructed by the NHAI according to specifications provided by the IAF. While other airstrips are operational across the country, this ELF in Andra Pradesh has recently become operational in peninsular India.
ELF highway airstrips significantly enhance the flexibility of air operations during contingencies and serve as invaluable assets during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in remote areas. The IAF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is actively working to establish ELFs at suitable locations.
