The Hindu Business Line : Poor visibility due to fog — `Govt must ensure airlines use navigational aid'

THE Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) has urged the Centre to ensure that all airlines use the CAT III A system to overcome the problem of landing and taking off in fog, in New Delhi.

Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, President, APAI, said that the fog in Delhi had disrupted flights causing inconvenience to passengers. The Airports Authority of India had commissioned a CAT III A system, a navigational aid which guides the pilot to land in poor visibility, in December 2001 itself to deal with the problem of fog in December and January.

The entire system was audited and approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. International airlines had started using the CAT III A system in low visibility condition from December 2001.

Mr Reddy said that it is understood that Air India pilots who are trained to land using the CAT III A system, are not permitted to do so because they have to be paid extra for this. He said that domestic airlines such as Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Sahara have not trained their pilots to use the CAT III A system while landing or take-off, in addition to not installing the required equipment.

Mr Reddy also questioned the rationale behind augmenting the CAT III A system with a CAT III B system which allows land and ground movement in even lower visibility. He said that the Civil Aviation Minister should look into such issues on top priority.

Welcoming the Centre's move to allow private airlines to operate overseas services, Mr Reddy said that competition from private airlines would benefit the travelling public. The Government must ensure that there is adequate infrastructure at airports to handle the expected boom in traffic.

He also urged the Government to look into the frequent flight disruptions and cancellation by the low-cost airline - Air Deccan.

Mr Reddy said that APAI would now become a national body with representation from all regions. A national executive committee meeting of APAI will be held in the city on January 31 where the plans will be unveiled.

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