Dhenkanal is a district in central Odisha with a mix of agricultural, forested, and industrial terrain — best known outside Odisha for the Kapilash Temple atop the Kapilash Hill and for the Satkosia Gorge where the Mahanadi cuts through the Eastern Ghats, forming one of India’s narrowest tiger reserve corridors. The district has no commercial airport. What it does have is Birasal Airstrip — a state-government-owned airfield 53 kilometres from Dhenkanal city, maintained by Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Department, and primarily used by the Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI) for pilot training since 2019. The airstrip carries no IATA code and no ICAO code. It is listed in AAI’s inventory of unserved aerodromes, serviceable in condition, but non-operational for scheduled commercial passenger flights.
Quick Overview: Birasal Airstrip
| Detail | Information |
| Airport Name | Birasal Airstrip (also: Dhenkanal Airstrip) |
| Location | Birasal, Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India |
| Airport Type | Public — General aviation / Pilot training (non-commercial) |
| IATA Code | Not Assigned |
| ICAO Code | Not Assigned |
| Owner | Government of Odisha (Commerce and Transport Department) |
| Primary Operator | Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI), Odisha |
| GATI Operations Since | 2019 |
| Runway Designation | 27/09 |
| Runway Length | 3,672 ft × 80 ft (~1,119 m × 24 m) — paved |
| Elevation | 262 ft / 80 m AMSL |
| Coordinates | 20°59′00.65″N, 85°40′44.48″E |
| Total Area | ~44 acres |
| Condition | Serviceable |
| Distance from Dhenkanal City | ~53 km |
| Nearest Commercial Airport | Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar (~134 km) |
| Flight Information Region | Kolkata FIR |
| Scheduled Commercial Flights | None |
Birasal Airstrip Location: Central Odisha’s GATI Training Base
Birasal Airstrip is located in Birasal in Dhenkanal district, approximately 53 kilometres from Dhenkanal city centre. The coordinates are 20°59′00.65″N, 85°40′44.48″E, at an elevation of 262 feet (80 metres) above sea level. The 44-acre site sits in the flat-to-gently-rolling terrain of central Odisha, between Bhubaneswar to the south and Angul to the northwest — in a zone that is neither deeply forested nor intensively industrialised, offering the open airspace and minimal obstruction that a flying school needs.
The 53-kilometre distance from Dhenkanal city is noteworthy — it places the airstrip considerably outside the district’s urban centre, in a rural setting that limits its practical utility as a passenger gateway even if commercial operations were established. The nearest comparable commercial airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 134 kilometres — for Dhenkanal residents seeking air travel, a road drive to Bhubaneswar is the practical choice.
Dhenkanal district’s tourism assets — the Kapilash Temple, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, and the Brahmani River gorge — give a future commercial airport here theoretical tourism value. In 2025–26, the Odisha government announced plans to develop a civil aviation operations centre in Dhenkanal, signalling ongoing interest in the district’s aviation development even if the specific form and timeline remain unconfirmed.
Birasal Airstrip Code: No IATA, No ICAO
Birasal Airstrip has no assigned IATA code and no assigned ICAO code. Both designations require formal DGCA aerodrome licensing and active commercial aviation operations — neither of which applies at Birasal. The airstrip is listed in AAI’s inventory of unserved aerodromes eligible for UDAN scheme commercial development. It does not publish METAR data, and no navigational aids have been recorded in the vicinity. The Odisha state government’s airstrip register classifies it as serviceable with a 355° radial bearing for approach.
Birasal Airstrip Terminal: GATI’s Pilot Training Ground Since 2019
The Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI) is an Odisha government initiative to produce commercial pilots — a recognition that civil aviation’s growth in India creates strong demand for trained aviators and that a state with aviation infrastructure can leverage that demand by creating a pilot supply chain. GATI has operated Birasal Airstrip as a flying school base since 2019, using light training aircraft on the 1,119-metre paved runway for basic pilot training exercises.
The runway’s 1,119 metres is adequate for the light piston and turboprop training aircraft GATI uses — Cessna 152s, Cessna 172s, and similar aircraft that require minimal runway length. Commercial turboprops of the ATR-72 class would need at least 1,400 metres, and the runway’s current specification therefore limits any commercial service to small aircraft like the Cessna 208 Caravan at best.
No public passenger terminal exists. The airstrip has basic training infrastructure — a hangar, operations office, and apron area for the training fleet — but no check-in counters, departure lounge, baggage system, or public passenger facilities. The 44-acre total area is modest compared to the 340-acre Berhampur Airport or the 196-acre Akola Airport, limiting future expansion potential.
Birasal Airstrip Connectivity: Pilot Training Only, No Commercial Flights
By Air: No scheduled commercial passenger flights operate from Birasal Airstrip. GATI conducts regular training flights. The airstrip is listed as an unserved aerodrome in AAI’s database, making it theoretically eligible for UDAN scheme bidding, but no airline bid had been received or awarded as of mid-2026.
By Road: Dhenkanal city is approximately 53 km from the airstrip — around 1 to 1.5 hours by road. The nearest major city, Bhubaneswar, is approximately 134 km south. Angul is approximately 55 km northwest. State highways connect the Birasal area to these destinations. For commercial air travel, Dhenkanal residents drive to Bhubaneswar.
By Rail: Dhenkanal Railway Station is on the Howrah-Mumbai line of the East Coast Railway, with trains to Bhubaneswar (approximately 2 hours), Kolkata, and other cities. The station is approximately 53 km from the airstrip.
Birasal Airstrip Amenities: Flying School Facilities, No Public Services
The airstrip provides the operational infrastructure that GATI’s pilot training programme requires: a paved runway, a hangar for the training fleet, basic aircraft maintenance facilities, and administrative support. There are no public passenger amenities — no terminal building for commercial passengers, no food services, no commercial baggage handling, and no ground transport desk for public use.
The Odisha government’s August 2025 announcement of plans to upgrade 14 unused airstrips into operational airports lists Birasal among the state’s aviation development priorities. Whether this translates into a runway extension, terminal construction, and UDAN commercial service depends on airline interest and state funding timelines that had not been formalised as of mid-2026.
FAQs: Birasal Airstrip
Q1. Does Birasal Airstrip have an IATA or ICAO code?
No. Birasal Airstrip carries no IATA code and no ICAO code. It is a state-government-owned public airstrip used for pilot training — not for scheduled commercial aviation.
Q2. What is GATI and what does it do at Birasal?
GATI is the Government Aviation Training Institute of Odisha, which has operated a flying school base at Birasal Airstrip since 2019. It uses the airstrip for Commercial Pilot Licence and Private Pilot Licence training on light aircraft.
Q3. Why is the airstrip 53 km from Dhenkanal city?
The Birasal site was selected for its flat, open terrain and minimal airspace obstruction — characteristics that make it suitable for training flights. The distance from the city is a consequence of site suitability rather than proximity preference.
Q4. Can commercial flights use Birasal Airstrip?
Not currently. The runway at approximately 1,119 metres is below the standard required for ATR-72 class commercial turboprop operations. No UDAN airline bid has been awarded for Birasal. Extension would be needed before commercial services could launch.
Q5. What is the nearest commercial airport to Dhenkanal?
Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar (BBI) at approximately 134 km is the nearest major commercial airport, with extensive domestic and international connectivity.
