BackJet Airways, IndiGo, GoAir lose six flight slots from Delhi
The airlines had flight crew on their aircraft who were not trained in landing under heavy fog
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New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has cancelled two flight slots each of Jet Airways (India) Ltd, IndiGo, and GoAir for not following rules. All six flights were from Delhi.
The airlines had flight crew on their planes who were not trained in landing under heavy fog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found. DGCA has made it mandatory for pilots to be trained in so-called CAT III operations for safe flight in the foggy months of winter, particularly in northern India.
There have already been two emergencies this winter, when pilots have said they were about to run out of fuel after hovering over airports for too long. They were given clearance for emergency landing by air traffic control at Delhi and Jaipur airports.
“DGCA has been in continuous touch with airlines to ensure deployment of CAT III compliant aircraft and CAT III trained crew during fog period," the regulator said in a statement. “However, in spite of repeated efforts in this regard, two flights each of Jet Airways, GoAir and IndiGo were diverted from Delhi to Jaipur."
DGCA said this deviation was brought to the notice of airlines, but they refused to act according to the rules. It is usual for DGCA to announce slot cancellations publicly.
IndiGo declined to comment. Jet and GoAir said they are explaining the matter to DGCA.
Jet Airways said the airline has been in touch with DGCA on the issue. “Furthermore, the airline has investigated the matter and have confirmed that the diversions occurred on ATR type of airplane. These aircraft are not cleared to conduct approaches below CAT I minimums due to regulatory restrictions," a Jet spokeswoman said.
GoAir admitted there was a diversion.
“Before departure of any flight, the en-route and destination weather is ascertained. The available weather forecast at the time of departure of the two GoAir flights on 29 January from Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Delhi showed visibility to be within permissible limits. The forecast showed a decline in visibility to CAT III condition from 4am onwards on 30 January," its spokeswoman said. “The visibility at Delhi dropped unexpectedly after the departure of our flights, thus necessitating a diversion to Jaipur."
DGCA had earlier this month issued a warning to airlines to deploy pilots trained to fly under foggy conditions and aircraft fitted with devices to match the CAT III instrument landing system (ILS) in Delhi or face action. DGCA’s meeting with the airlines and airport operators was held on 7 January, two days after 53 flights were diverted out of fog-hit Delhi to nearby airports. The diversion was caused mainly due to the airlines operating planes with pilots not trained to land in foggy conditions or the aircraft not fitted with CAT III ILS-matching devices.
“This action seems to be more to cover two very serious events. The accident at Jaipur, which has not been declared an accident, and the SpiceJet flight on the same day that landed with less than two minutes of fuel when they were diverted back to Delhi," said Mohan Ranganathan, a member of the government-appointed aviation safety advisory committee.
A passenger association said the rules should have been followed.
“It is a welcome move and we feel it is high time all airlines operate with aircraft compliant with CAT III navigational facilities and piloted by commanders trained to operate with CAT III navigational aids," said Air Passengers Association of India chairman D. Sudhakara Reddy. “After all, they have had to change their schedules during this foggy period."
Although flight disruptions have been reduced over the years as airline firms modernized and trained their pilots, Reddy said they should also ensure passengers don’t have to sit inside the planes for as much as two-six hours during foggy conditions.
“Many passenger have been detained inside an aircraft when an aircraft was diverted and not served anything due to security reasons," Reddy said. “This is not acceptable."
The aviation regulator’s crackdown came a day after Mint reported that DGCA has asked private airlines to provide special privileges to members of Parliament (MPs).
On Thursday, opposing special privileges given to lawmakers, Lok Sabha member Ajay Kumar on Thursday sought revocation of all such privileges granted by airlines to politicians, bureaucrats and judges.
In a letter to DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar, the MP from Jamshedpur representing the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), said he was against granting special privileges that a normal citizen does not enjoy.
“Politicians can be absolutely abrasive and very uncouth at airports and misuse the respect which is accorded to their office. However, politicians are only one part of the issue," Ajay Kumar said. “The biggest abuse of the special privileges is done by bureaucrats and judges. Air India has suffered immensely in the past and continues to do so due to this reason."
PTI contributed to this story.
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