DGCA asks airlines to follow rules during low visibility ops

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to strictly adhere to rules while flying to or from Delhi under low visibility conditions.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to strictly adhere to rules while flying to or from Delhi under low visibility conditions.

A flight takes off amid dense fog at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Thursday. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

The latest communication from DGCA comes in the wake of Air India and SpiceJet flights being diverted from Delhi airport in the past few days as they were either operated by crew, which were not CAT III qualified or airlines using non-CAT III compliant planes for flights to Delhi.

The diversions, the DGCA said, had taken place despite the visibility at runways not falling below 125 metres.

“Only CAT III aircraft to be scheduled during fog period along with CAT III qualified crew. Non-CAT III compliant aircrafts will have to be rescheduled between 10am to 8pm,” the DGCA said.

“Close monitoring and planning of flight as per weather forecast with proper coordination the Delhi airport, DGCA and Airports Authority of India. In case of low visibility/ fog forecast, fights not to be planned for Delhi during zero visibility conditions and fights may be rescheduled from the point of origin,” the regulator added.