The Hindu Business Line : ‘Govt panel should be set up for managing air space’

New Delhi, March 25 Calling for the Indian Air Force to expeditiously review restricted and danger areas in the air space, a Government committee set up to formulate a master plan for the ‘Next generation air navigation services,’ has recommended that a high-level Government committee be constituted for working out ways that allow flexible use of airspace between the civilian and armed forces.

The committee, which was headed by the former Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr Ajay Prasad, has suggested that as a first step, airspace above 29,000 feet could be released for civil traffic in the presently defined restricted or dangerous airspace. “When required, the Defence requirements would have a priority of not only increasing their height requirements but also expanding the restricted airspace. To divert the planned civilian traffic and not to cause undue hardship to passengers, a notice of at least 24 hours would need to be given. The normal air Defence traffic would continue to use the upper airspace above 29,000 feet along with the civilian air traffic as at present,” the committee has said. Official sources said that the complete implementation of the report will help reduce delays and also make air travel even safer than what it is today. The committee has stressed on the need for seamless bi-directional flow of metrological data between the Meteorological Department and Airports Authority of India. It has also recommended the setting up of a national aviation meteorological centre (NAMC) under the Indian Meteorological Department to meet aviation weather requirements of all stakeholders. The committee has called for considering an air traffic control (ATC) delay of more than five minutes as “significant” and suggested that capacity should be analysed should be analysed scientifically so that the system is not overloaded.

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