DGCA issues guidelines for aircraft operations during low visibility conditions at IGI Airport
The Directorate General for Civil Aviation has issued the following guidelines
for low visibility conditions at IGI Airport:
The Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) prepared for the operation of aircraft
upto CAT IIIB visibility conditions at IGI Airport Delhi and notified through
AIP Supplement No. 33 of 2006, shall be strictly followed by all the agencies
at the airport including the security agencies.
With the deteriorating trend of visibility detected, Duty Officer MET, IGI airport, shall inform
the WSO as the RVR becomes less than 1200 meters and also when the visibility
forecasted indicates deterioration of visibility to 800 meters or less. This information
shall also be passed by MET at IGI airport to the Airlines and other agencies whenever enquiries
about visibility conditions are received from Airlines to plan their flight scheduling.
The Airlines on the basis of the
above information shall plan their departures and arrival at IGI airport
and simultaneously commence necessary facilitation processes to avoid inconvenience
to their passengers.
The Met Department should draw a contingency plan to include the continuous
serviceability of Met equipments and positioning of senior officials.
Airport Terminal Managers of DIAL
at all the three terminals at IGI Airport shall also monitor such information
and in co-ordination with the Airlines
take necessary steps to facilitate passengers as drawn up in their fog contingency
plan.
The Low Visibility Procedures shall start from the moment the RVR value
drops to 800 M and less. The MET Department
at the airport shall continuously monitor the trend of RVR which shall be broadcasted
and updated from time to time. All airlines shall monitor this trend through telephone or the ATIS
broadcast for their planning of flight departures and passenger facilitation.
WSO on receipt of visibility reports shall at the appropriate time ensure
broadcasting on ATIS, whenever CAT II and CAT III-A/B conditions are in vogue.
Once the LVP commences, all the
agencies at the IGI airport shall start taking respective action contained
in the Low Visibility Procedure.
Proper and strict RT discipline shall be maintained by all the pilots, ATC and Apron Control
during LVP operations.
Airlines shall ensure
that only those pilots who are adequately trained and certificated for Low Take-off
Minima are rostered for operating flights during low visibility conditions from/to
Delhi to ensure aircraft operation during low visibility conditions especially
during CAT II and CAT III-A/B conditions.
The following procedure shall be followed by the Air Traffic Control and the pilots of all airlines for operations
during low visibility conditions:
The pilots while requesting
for start up, in addition to the normal procedure of intimating POB, security
check, parking stand number shall also
provide the following information;
“CREW, CAT IIIA/B CAT II (as applicable
to individual case), QUALIFIED” and
“ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED”.
Thereafter START-UP clearance
will be approved by the ATC.
On the basis of trend forecast indicating change in visibility conditions
below 800m ATC will give priority to Cat-II/III compliant flights. During the
improving trend in the visibility from Cat-IIIB/Cat II, the flights certified
for lower category of operation i.e. Cat III,II and I in the order, shall be given start-up on the
actual reported visibility.
The Apron Control, who shall
be keeping a listening watch on the ground frequency, shall monitor `Door Close’
compliance with the request of the aircraft for start-up. In case of false information
regarding door closed by any aircraft, his start up sequence shall be cancelled.
Fresh start up shall be considered by ATC only after getting confirmation
from the Apron Control/security jeep. Such cases shall be reported to DGCA by
DIAL.
The Apron Control shall also
maintain constant surveillance of persons, vehicles on movement area and ensure
strict adherence to apron discipline guidelines as contained in the SOP on inspection
of the Apron Area during LV-Operations at IGI airport. Any violation shall be strictly acted upon.
The airlines should endeavor
to sequence the departure of their respective flights in accordance with the MET
Minima approved for their pilots.
On improvement of RVR as reported by MET Office, the ATC shall ensure that proper traffic flow/ sequence is maintained.
The Flight Operations Officers of the airlines shall also monitor
the weather being passed by ATC to the aircraft and also the weather broadcast
on ATIS (126.4 MHz) for briefing of their flight crew either in person or company
channel.
It would be the individual responsibility
of the Airlines for revising Estimated Off Block Time of their flights in
line with the visibility given by the MET Office and the availability of the pilots
for operating in such situation.
Normally not more than 8 (eight) start-ups may be approved by ATC during the first 30 minutes immediately
after the MET report on improvement of RVR to 550 meters is received.
This number is flexible at the discretion depending on prevalent traffic
situation.
The ATC shall sequence
the departures based on the start-up request, runway in use vis-à-vis parking
stand of the aircraft and also taking into consideration the routes to be flown
in order to avoid congestion at taxi hold position.
The ATC shall sequence
the departure of flights giving equal preference to each of the airlines that
gets ready for taxi out.
Any queries in this regard from the airlines shall be through their flight
operations office, which will be in contact with its flight crew on company channel
and with ATC on landline to avoid congestion on RT.
At least 30 minutes before the departure, the flight crew/ flight operations officer of the airlines shall monitor
the ground control frequencies for updates with regard to sequencing of departures.
If any flight fails to push
back or taxi-out within 2 minutes of receiving such clearance the ATC must be informed by the flight
crew or by their Airlines who shall then re-sequence
the departure time for the affected flight.
Domestic airlines may plan
not more than 5 (five) arrivals within the first 30 minutes of improvement of
RVR to 550 meters and above. The same
rate to be continued for the next one hour. This number is flexible at the discretion
depending on prevalent traffic situation.
WSO ATC shall monitor
the traffic conditions and initiate activation of surveillance approach radar
as per ATC circular no.2/2003 when arrivals are more than 15 within one hour so
as to regulate proper sequencing of arrival flights.
ATC, Delhi shall inform to outstations
metro airports (BOM, CCU, HYD etc.) about the “estimated time of touchdown”, depending
on the traffic situation, on an hourly basis applicable for two hours ± 10 minutes
to facilitate the airlines to plan their departure from above stations to Delhi.
The diverted flights to nearby stations around Delhi shall be accorded
priority by Delhi ATC for return of these diverted flights to Delhi. Only the
senior level officers from Airlines thru their operational control and /or thru
ERIC, can request WSO ATC Delhi for according priority for their such flights
by indicating their name and designation.
The Surveillance Approach Sector
Controller shall issue expected touch down time to the arrival aircraft
based on 3 minute interval of the arrivals. The pilots of these arrival
aircraft shall inform their respective flight operations about their ETA on
their company frequency.
Radar Controller shall arrange
the arrivals with spacing of 8 to 10 NM to accommodate one departure in between
2 arrivals taking into consideration the domestic and/ or international departures
during that period.
Airline Pilots on incoming flights
(jet aircraft) shall maintain speed at 210 knots when given 20 NM check and
shall further maintain the speed as per ATC instructions to ensure desired spacing
from safety considerations.
CISF, in coordination with Airport
Terminal Managers shall ensure that all Security Check Points inside
the Terminal Building are manned and all associated security equipments including
X-ray Baggage Inspection System, HHMDs etc. are serviceable.
All airlines should nominate senior level officer as NODAL OFFICER and positioned at the airport
during the fog period to be available for taking on the spot decision for passenger
facilitation and to co-ordinate with the control cells (ERIC/CMC/PRESS BRIFING
etc.) established by DIAL for the Fog contingency.
Airlines shall augment
their ground staff and position them at the airport with proper briefing for handling
various passenger facilitation processes in co-ordination with the other airport
agencies.
Airlines shall inform their passengers of the delay/rescheduling/ cancellation
of their flights in advance through mobile/SMS/other communication mean to avoid
congestion at the airport.
Airlines shall periodically
update flight information display system at the airport to apprise their passengers
about the delay/cancellation etc. In addition to the information displayed by
Airlines about their flight status, Airlines shall also provide updated information
of their flights on hourly basis to DIAL for display on Flight Information Display
system as well as on CCTV.
Frequent announcement
on the flight status shall be made through DIAL PA system in the passenger check-in
area after obtaining updated information from Airlines. The airlines shall make
similar announcement in the security hold area.
Airlines shall ensure progressive boarding of the passengers out
of security hold area in order to avoid congestion in the security hold. Passenger
after check-in shall be made to proceed for security by the airlines after ensuring
that the flight is ready to depart / is on ground. If delayed, after boarding,
appropriate facilitation to be given by Airlines on board.
The Airlines, particularly
LCC shall provide facilitation in terms of tea/water/snacks to the passenger of
their delayed flights. The coupon scheme extended by DIAL may be availed by airlines
for the passenger facilitation purpose.
All the security counters and custom/immigration counters, as
applicable for International terminal, should be manned adequately to avoid congestion.
DIAL shall give periodic information through
the press releases regarding the status of aircraft movement that has taken place
at IGI airport during fog conditions in consultation with Airlines.
Late last night the DGCA held a meeting of all domestic and international
airline operators as well as the airport operators to review the situation and
has directed them to make a coordinated effort to ensure that scheduled are not
affected in case of low visibility conditions.
MC/GK
(Release ID :32593)