A new international airport has been developed in Sri Lanka near the port city of Hambantota to cater for the growing needs of the Sri Lankan Aviation industry. The airport received its first aircraft on 16th October 2012 when a Pakistani aircraft carrying the Flight Inspection team of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority arrived at the airport in a Pakistani aircraft (AP-CAB), Beech King Air BE20. The aircraft is specially equipped to inspect Navigational, Landing and Visual Aids, Radars, Communication Systems, GNSS/RNAV procedures and other operational facilities at any international airport. On the occasion of the first landing on the airport, the President of Sri Lanka HE Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa specially came to see the Pakistani aircraft. He was briefed by Captain Khalid Masood, the leader of the Pakistani Flight Inspection team.
Besides Sri Lanka, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority also provides Flight Inspection services to many other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Sharjah and Bangladesh. Thus, besides earning a good name for the country, the Flight Inspection Unit also earns valuable foreign exchange earning for the country.
