BOMBAY: Forty one U.S aircraft have been refueled at the Sahar International Airport here since January 9 airport sources said Tuesday.

The aircraft operating between the U.S. base in Manila and the Gulf were mainly the C 141 (star lifter) and C 130 (Hercules) capable of carrying 30 to 40 tonnes of material

Air India is the ground handling agent while Indian Oil Corporation is doing the refueling sources said. They are being charged Rs 19000 per aircraft as landing fee.

Madras Agra also

Some American transport aircraft flying in from and to the Gulf had refueled at the southern of metropolitan city of Madras and the northern Indian city of Agra also It was officially stated here Wednesday.

A foreign office spokesman said a few flights of U.S. transport aircraft made a transit through Madras and Agra.

The spokesman did not say when and how many aircraft refueled in Madras and Agra.

According to a report from Colombo the refueling is likely to be discontinued.

According to the foreign office the refueling in Bombay Madras and Agra of aircraft flying from and to the gulf is under a bilateral agreement. The fuel has been supplied on a returnable basis.

The refueling has been sharply criticized by opposition political parties and Iraq.

WASHINGTON: The US state department has confirmed that India is indeed giving limited refueling and transit facilities for U.S. military aircraft and expressed U.S. appreciation of the action.

“The department said the government of India has cooperated with our request for limited aircraft transit and refueling facilities.

India and the United States ‘continue to enjoy good bilateral relations and the permission granted us for use of any facilities is consistent with these relations the department said.

USAF plane grounded

BOMBAY: A United States Air Force C-141 transport aircraft which flew into Bombay en route to an undisclosed destination was grounded at the airport’s international terminal at Sahar due to engine snags airport officials said on Feb 3.

The aircraft with flight number listed as USAF-13486 was scheduled to leave Bombay around midnight but was still on the ground late next evening. No details were available.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 8, 1991