Editing Tamil Nadu (section)

===Air===
[[File:International Terminal Airside Chennai Airport Aug22 D72 24874.jpg|thumb|[[Chennai International Airport]] is one of the busiest airports in [[South Asia]]]]

The aviation history of the state 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 press release|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> 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=978-0-208-00171-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=De Havilland Gazette|year=1953|page=103publisher=De Havilland Aircraft Company}}</ref> There are three [[international airport|international]], one [[customs airport|limited international]] and six domestic or private airports in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nocas2.aai.aero/nocas/AAI_Links/Airports-IFR-VFR-200815.pdf|title=List of Indian Airports (NOCAS)|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=22 October 2023|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102073533/https://nocas2.aai.aero/nocas/AAI_Links/Airports-IFR-VFR-200815.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/basic_page_files/list%20of%20airport%20bilingual.pdf|title=List of Indian Airports|publisher=[[Airports Authority of India]]|access-date=11 July 2022|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212185132/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/basic_page_files/list%20of%20airport%20bilingual.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:Port of Chennai, India - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Chennai port]] is amongst India's busiest]]

[[Chennai International Airport|Chennai airport]], which is the fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic in India, is a major international airport and the main gateway to the state.<ref name="AAI">{{cite report|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Sep2k23Annex2.pdf|type=pdf|title=Traffic Statistics, September 2023|publisher=Airport Authority of India|access-date=20 October 2023|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102072028/https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Sep2k23Annex2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Other international airports in the state include [[Coimbatore International Airport|Coimbatore]] and [[Tiruchirapalli International Airport|Tiruchirapalli]] while [[Madurai Airport|Madurai]] is a customs airport with limited international flights.<ref name="AAI"/> Domestic flights are operational to certain airports like [[Tuticorin Airport|Tuticorin]] and [[Salem Airport (India)|Salem]] while flights are planned to be introduced to more domestic airports by the [[UDAN]] scheme of [[Government of India]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Regional_Connectivity_Scheme_version_4.0%20_Scheme_Document_0.pdf|title=Regional Connectivity Scheme|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=17 August 2023|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002225126/https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/sites/default/files/Regional_Connectivity_Scheme_version_4.0%20_Scheme_Document_0.pdf|url-status=dead}}</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 three air bases in the state{{nbsp}}[[Sulur Air Force Station|Sulur]], [[Tambaram Air Force Station|Tambaram]] and [[Thanjavur Air Force Station|Thanjavur]].<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|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528093815/https://indianairforce.nic.in/zonal-maps/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Indian Navy]] operates airbases at [[INS Rajali|Arakkonam]], [[INS Parundu|Uchipuli]] 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|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206221912/https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/organisation-southern-naval-command-kochi|url-status=live}}</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|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072321/http://indiannavy.nic.in/content/enc-authorities-units|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, [[Indian Space Research Organization]] (ISRO) announced the setting up a new rocket launch pad near [[Kulasekharapatnam]] in [[Thoothukudi district]].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=6 December 2019|title=Why Thoothukudi was chosen as ISRO's second spaceport|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-thoothukudi-was-chosen-isro-s-second-spaceport-113331|date=2 December 2019|work=The News Minute|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202190344/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-thoothukudi-was-chosen-isro-s-second-spaceport-113331|archive-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>