Page 16 - World Airnews Magazine February Edition 2021

INTERVIEW

EXPERIENCED WHERE YOUR airport from project formulation

LEADERSHIP TRAITS AND to its successful completion and A Game Changer - In His Own

QUALITIES WERE PUT TO commissioning. The project was
TEST? completed on time with no cost Words

(IS) There have been several. overrun. SSR is ranked # 4 best “I was heading for the airport being driven by an air
But this one has been a game airport in Africa; the first three force corporal. When I was just about under the flight

changer incident in my life when I being in Cape Town, Durban and

was CEO of IGI Airport, New Delhi Johannesburg respectively. I was path, I heard an alert from my fire chief on the RT

- the 16th busiest (2019) in the associated as ICAO planning/ (Radiotelephone simultaneously connecting all the
emergency stations) about a B-747 with 271 passengers

world and ranked world’s best security/commercial expert in in its final approach to land emitting smoke from one of

airport for customer experience the development of the Bole the engines. I instantly glanced up in the air and noticed

in 70 MPPA category by Airport International Airport, Addis

Council International (ACI). (see Ababa, Ethiopia to review the the smoke and additionally, a spark on the rear side of

side bar) plans prior to implementation. the engine, not visible to the air traffic control tower or

the fire station. Knowing that the flight may catch fire

Similarly, I have been engaged while rolling on the runway, I immediately intervened,
in several other acounteries in

(HG) WHAT AN INCREDIBLE the preparation of feasibility as I am authorised to do, and informed about the fire

EXPERIENCE! WHAT WAS reports, their upgradation and noticed and simultaneously gave a ‘specific’ command

YOUR REWARD OR TAKE development through PPP route. to combat fire, among several different options at my

AWAY? disposal. You may call it expertise, experience, training,

(IS) I learnt an all-time lesson in (HG) NOW INDY WE instinct, presence of mind or sixth sense all rolled into
one on instantly arriving at a decision.
the ‘Art of Crisis Management”, SPOKEN A LOT AND WORLD “The immediate response from the chief fire officer

received respect from my team, AIRNEWS WOULD LIKE TO was Wilco, meaning “will comply with”. No discussions,
professional recognition by the OFFER YOU A POSITION no arguments, no contradictions and no questions. That

highest echelons in the govern- AS AN INTERNATIONAL

ment, and the ‘International CORRESPONDENT? WHAT clinched the deal! As is known, if an aircraft fire is not

Vocational Services Award’ IS YOUR RESPONSE TO extinguished within two minutes, there is no need to

reach out, as nothing will be left to be saved of the air-
from the highly regarded Rotary THIS? craft, its occupants – collateral damage to other aircraft

International Foundation, for (IS) That sounds wonderful! parked in the close vicinity and infrastructure notwith-
“Leading from the Front and Yes, I would like to do this. In
Outstanding Devotion to Duty”. fact, it would be an honor to be standing. The daring corporal drove me on the runway

What more could I possibly ask associated with and have the under the burning wing, until the aircraft came to a

screeching halt, surrounded by fire-fighting vehicles,

for? privilege of working with you ambulances, doctors, security personnel and the works.
and your esteemed team. This During the drive under the burning aircraft wing, in the

way I can share my expertise and

(HG) I SEE THAT YOU experience with the readership, eerie silence, I heard the firefighters saying let us move

HAVE SERVED IN SEVERAL gained over the years in different fast – Airport Chief under the burning wing; motivation

COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, 11 global locations. to save their colleague at its best!

TO BE PRECISE. WAS IT BY “All the 271 passengers and crew were unharmed and

CHANCE OR BY CHOICE? (HG) WHAT ARE SOME OF exited through the emergency evacuation slides. The

(IS) I believe that there is nothing YOUR MAJOR LEARNINGS firefighters, the brave corporal and all others involved
HAVING SERVED

were rewarded with testimonials, out-of-turn promo-
by chance. In his book ‘Nothing AROUND THE GLOBE IN tions, scholarships for higher training overseas

by Chance” Richard Bach writes THE DEVELOPMENT OF
that nothing in this world hap- AVIATION AND AIRPORTS? and more.”
pens by chance but rather is all
predetermined and at times by (IS) It has given me an exposure

one’s own efforts & convictions. to the world’s best practices,

Only, it has to be at the right time the experience of working

and the right place. Many a times with multi-disciplinary and

I have opted for Africa - over multi-cultural teams of aviation

other locations, when asked to experts in the planning, design,

give a choice among options. development and operations of
airports in varied socio-economic
environments.
(HG) FOR THOSE OUT
THERE WHO DO NOT KNOW (HG) THANK YOU FOR
YOU – CAN YOU BRIEFLY ACCEPTING OUR OFFER.
SKETCH SOME OF THE WE LOOK FORWARD TO
POSITIONS YOU HAVE HELD RECEIVING YOUR ARTICLES
AND THE WORK YOU HAVE AND INPUTS IN THE NOT-
UNDERTAKEN IN AFRICA? TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.
(IS) I was the ICAO domain STAY SAFE AND STRONG.
expert/project coordinator in the (IS) For sure, looking forward

phase I development of the SSR to an excellent association.

International Airport, Mauritius. The readers can reach me for

The project was a very rewarding interaction or feedback on

experience as it encompassed inderjit.singh@aviationanalyst.
the overall development of the net Q
World Airnews | February 2021
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