Bengaluru residents complain about nighttime aircraft training, HAL says won’t stop

Peaceful quiet nights have disappeared for residents of Koramangala, HAL and Ejipura as planes have been disrupting their sleep for several weeks. The operation of flights for training pilots from commercial airlines from HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) Airport has left the residents to deal with the constant noise of planes circling above. The skies over these neighbourhoods have been buzzing with activity for weeks, leaving residents tired and frustrated.

A petition to HAL by the residents on behalf of Koramangala 3rd Block Residents Welfare Association said, “Many are witnesses to being awakened by the sound of these aircrafts describing the deafening and terrifying sound they hear every night. The sound is so loud that it almost feels like something can come crashing over your home…Flight radar tracking has clearly shown that these are not defence flights training but commercial airlines who are training their pilots. Some of them do 20 sorties over a short period in the middle of the night.”

Ajay Reddy, president of the Koramangala 3rd block Residents Welfare Association, voiced the collective frustration saying, "We've been meticulously tracking these aircraft movements and found nearly 30 planes flying between 12 am and 2:30 am. What's troubling is that these are pilot training for commercial airlines, not defence flights. We fully understand the importance of defence activities, but we urge the restriction on these flights during daylight hours."

Another resident added, “It’s a menace at night. There are senior citizens in the area who are particularly vulnerable to such disturbances.” He added that there has been an increase in nighttime aircraft activity in the last three weeks.

"The nights have turned into a battleground of noise, and it's taking a toll on our health. We wake up tired and anxious, and it's affecting our daily lives,” said a resident of Ejipura who didn’t want to be named.

The screenshots of flight radar tracking show Air India flights circling Koramangala, Ejipura, and surrounding areas from 11 pm to 3 am.

The root of the conflict lies in striking a balance between aircraft training activities and the quality of life for nearby residents. They object to the disturbance caused by these flights operating during nocturnal hours. The residents have filed an online petition demanding changes in flight schedules. They request that these flights should be stopped after 10 pm. “We are only asking to restrict the pilot flight training movement from 6 am to 10 pm,” Ajay added.

In an email response to the residents, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) – responsible for the aircraft operations – said operations at HAL Airport are crucial and cannot be stopped. “HAL is a Defence Airport and all flying activities are being undertaken on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India in the national interest. Under no circumstances can the said activities be paused or stopped,” the statement read.

The statement further read, “HAL Airport caters to VVIP/Non-Scheduled operations and training flights of all major civil scheduled airlines in the country. Through these activities, HAL supports the civil aviation growth of the country which is growing at an unprecedented rate under the able guidance & monitoring of the Civil Aviation Ministry and PMO. It is pertinent to mention that by accommodating the said operations throughout the year HAL is contributing to the GDP growth of the country.”

HAL also referred to regulations stipulating that aerodromes should ideally be situated away from residential areas to mitigate noise disruptions. They said that urban development had led to a scenario where the airport was now surrounded by densely populated neighbourhoods. “Und,er Section 5 of the Aircraft Act, 1934, it is expected that aerodromes be constructed far away from residential areas of a city in order to protect residences from the noise created by frequent take-off and landing. Accordingly, HAL Airport was also built in 1941 in an area that was at a distance from the populated residential areas. However, with an unprecedented pace and a sudden growth, the urban areas in and around HAL Airport have become densely populated,” the statement read.

TNM reached out to HAL authorities but did not receive any response. This story will be updated as and when we hear from them.