Editing Chennai (section)

=== Air ===
[[File:International_Terminal_Airside_Chennai_Airport_Aug22_D72_24874.jpg|thumb|[[Chennai International Airport]] is one of the busiest in India]]

The aviation history of Chennai began in 1910, when [[Giacomo D'Angelis]] built the first powered flight in Asia and tested it in [[The Island, Chennai|Island Grounds]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://static.mygov.in/indiancc/2021/05/mygov-10000000001960522275.pdf|title=History of Indian Air Force|publisher=[[Government of India]]|page=2|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208172949/https://static.mygov.in/indiancc/2021/05/mygov-10000000001960522275.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1915, [[Tata Sons|Tata Air Mail]] started an airmail service between Karachi and Madras marking the beginning of civil aviation in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=69345|title=100 years of civil aviation|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=26 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226224125/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=69345|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 1930, a discussion initiated by pilot G. Vlasto led to the founding of [[Madras Flying Club]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Aviation|year=1952|first=R.L.|last=Saraogi|page=192}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Janardanan|first=Arun|title=Madras Flying Club: High on quality|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|location=Chennai|date=14 June 2011|language=en|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madras-flying-club-high-on-quality/articleshow/8842647.cms|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901172935/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madras-flying-club-high-on-quality/articleshow/8842647.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> On 15 October 1932, [[J. R. D. Tata]] flew a [[De Havilland Puss Moth|Puss Moth]] aircraft carrying air mail from Karachi to [[Bombay]]'s [[Juhu aerodrome|Juhu Airstrip]] and the flight was continued to Madras piloted by aviator [[Nevill Vintcent]] marking the first scheduled commercial flight.<ref>{{cite book|language=en|title=Britain's Imperial Air Routes, 1918 to 1939|last=Higham|first=Robin|page=168|publisher=Shoe String Press|year=1961|isbn=978-0-2080-0171-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=De Havilland Gazette|year=1953|page=103|publisher=De Havilland Aircraft Company}}</ref> The city is served by [[Chennai International Airport]] located in [[Tirusulam]], around {{convert|20|km}} southwest of the city centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/from-atop-chennais-tirusulam-hill-you-can-watch-airplanes-fly-by/article29877472.ece|title=From atop this hill in Chennai, you can watch airplanes fly by|date=4 November 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=31 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331132903/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/from-atop-chennais-tirusulam-hill-you-can-watch-airplanes-fly-by/article29877472.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the [[List of busiest airports in India|fourth-busiest]] airport in India in terms of passenger traffic and cargo handled.<ref>{{cite report|title=Airports by Passenger Traffic, 2022-23|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/rev_Mar2k23Annex3.pdf|access-date=24 April 2023|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]}}</ref> While the existing airport is undergoing expansion with an addition of {{cvt|1069.99|acres|2}}, a new [[Chennai greenfield airport, Parandur|greenfield airport]] has been proposed to handle additional traffic.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chennai's aero dreams take wing|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennais-aero-dreams-take-wing/articleshow/12974999.cms|date=3 May 2012|first1=Arun|last1=Janardhanan|first2=V|last2=Ayyappan|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|location=Chennai|access-date=25 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928021647/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennais-aero-dreams-take-wing/articleshow/12974999.cms|archive-date=28 September 2016}}</ref>

The region comes under the purview of the [[Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force|Southern Air Command]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. The Air Force operates an air base at [[Tambaram Air Force Station|Tambaram]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Air Force Commands|url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/zonal-maps/|publisher=[[Indian Air Force]]|access-date=29 June 2010|language=en}}</ref> The [[Indian Navy]] operates airbases at [[INS Rajali|Arakkonam]] and Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|title=Organisation of Southern Naval Command|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/organisation-southern-naval-command-kochi|publisher=[[Indian Navy]]|access-date=26 August 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ENC Authorities & Units|url=https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/enc-authorities-units|publisher=[[Indian Navy]]|access-date=26 October 2015|language=en}}</ref>