Peak fog season: Government lists steps for airlines & airports operators to minimize flyer inconvenience – Newz9

NEW DELHI: Airlines mustn’t maintain passengers seated inside plane for greater than 90 minutes in case of fog-related delayed departures they usually want to cancel flights delayed by over three hours. As peak winter fog season kicks in, the union aviation ministry on Wednesday listed out a do’s and don’ts for airlines and airport operators to minimize passenger inconvenience.
“Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) circular for facilitating smooth re-entry of passengers in case of flight cancellations was operationalized and drills were organized by CISF with stakeholders.This would significantly reduce passenger inconvenience and ensure a smoother re-boarding process once flights resume,” the Ram Mohan Naidu-headed ministry mentioned in a press release.
Airlines have been “instructed” to proactively talk with passengers about potential delays/cancellations due to visibility points. “For this, airlines and booking agents (need) to ensure that correct passenger contact information is recorded during ticket booking.”
The Met division (IMD) together with Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expediting implementation of “advanced weather observation system” (AWOS) at IGIA and different fog-affected airports. This system will guarantee correct and well timed climate info for pilots and air visitors controllers to improve operational security and effectivity. “IMD (is) committed to ensure all Met equipment function without disruption.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), “in close coordination with airlines, has ensured deployment of adequate number of CAT II/CAT III-compliant crew and aircraft to carry out low visibility operations efficiently during the fog period at affected airports. Three runways at the Delhi airport have activated CAT III ILS systems, including the important runway 10/28 (the one between T1 and T2.”
Airlines have been requested to guarantee full staffing at verify-in counters throughout peak hours to scale back passenger inconvenience. “Delhi Airport has installed LED screens at prominent locations to provide real time updates on visibility conditions. Delhi Airport has also scaled up the number of ‘follow me’ vehicles, which will guide and assist the pilots on the apron/taxiway during low visibility conditions ensuring better coordination on ground,” the assertion says.
Airlines have been advised to sensitize their “operations control centers” (OCCs) and battle-room representatives for nearer coordination throughout hostile climate situations, particularly fog, to “improve real time decision-making (and) allowing for more effective and timely responses to flight delays or cancellations.” “AAl has implemented new standard operating procedures to effectively regulate air traffic at fog-affected airports and at the originating or destination airports,” it added.
The ministry says it has carried out a collection of consultations over the previous two months with airlines, airport operators, DGCA, BCAS, AAI, IMD and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).