Slow taxiing aircraft to be sent to queue end

In a move that could help reduce flight delays, aircraft taking off from the Mumbai airport could be sent to the end of the departure queue if pilots are caught taxiing slower than the speed stipulated by the air traffic control (ATC) office. The move will come into effect from Thursday. Soubhik Mitra reports.

In a move that could help reduce flight delays, aircraft taking off from the Mumbai airport could be sent to the end of the departure queue if pilots are caught taxiing slower than the speed stipulated by the air traffic control (ATC) office. The move will come into effect from Thursday.

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According to an ATC circular issued on August 27, pilots cannot taxi at less than 15 knots on a straight stretch and eight to12 knots while maneuvering a turn on the runway. "Despite frequent warnings, some airlines have not been sticking to the approved taxiing speed. The new rule is likely to make them fall in line," said a senior ATC official who requested anonymity.

The initiative is part of the airport's long-term plan to increase the number of flight operations per hour from 30 to 48 by next June. "Reducing runway occupancy time is critical to increase flight movements because the airport has space constraints," said a civil aviation ministry official.

What the air traffic control circular says

Aircraft taking off from the Mumbai airport could be sent to the end of the departure queue if pilots are caught taxiing slower than the speed stipulated by the air traffic control (ATC) office.

Pilots cannot taxi at less than 15 knots on a straight stretch and eight to12 knots while maneuvering a turn on the runway.

Every time a flight is penalised and sent to the end of the queue, the ATC will make an entry of the incident in its logbook.

The circular also states that every time a flight is penalised and sent to the end of the queue, the ATC will make an entry of the incident in its logbook. This record could be used against the concerned airline during the distribution of take-off and landing slots in the winter session between October and March 2012.

The circular also states that depending on the type of aircraft being used, the ATC could ask certain flights to start their take-off roll from the middle of the runway. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has asked airlines to seek permission in advance for this.

The ATC has also warned pilots to complete the mandatory pre-departure checks before entering the runway. "Often air crew leave pre-departure checks for the last minute and miss their take-off time," added an ATC official.