Question : Cancellation of Flights

(a) whether a large number of both domestic and international flights have been cancelled due to dense fog during the last winter season;''

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the amount of loss incurred by various airlines as a result of the same;

(d) whether Indira Gandhi International Airport is the only airport of the country having the CAT-IIIB landing system facility;

(e) if so, whether the Government has made it mandatory to set up CAT-IIIB landing system at all the airports of the country in view of the low visibility conditions;

(f) if so, the details thereof including the names of the airports where the said facility has been set up; and

(g) the other steps taken by the Government to remove/mitigate the problems being faced by various airlines in taking off and landing of flights during the dense fog conditions?

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) and (b): As per the traffic data submitted by the scheduled domestic airlines, number of flight cancellations during November 2016 to February, 2017 is placed at Annexure-I. Airlines are not required to submit details of cancellation specific to fog as per the prevailing regulations.;

(c): Airlines are not required to submit loss incurred on flight cancellation specifically due to fog as per prevailing regulations.;

(d) to (f): Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT-IIIB has been installed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Lucknow Airport and Jaipur Airport to enable the aircraft operations during low visibility conditions of upto 50m.;

(g): With a view to minimize the inconvenience to traveling passengers and to ensure safety of operation during Low Visibility Conditions all scheduled airlines were directed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to follow the following instructions:;

- Close monitoring and planning of flights as per weather forecast with proper coordination with dedicated teams of IMD/DGCA/AAI/DIAL.;

- In case of low visibility/fog forecast, flights not to be planned of Delhi during Zero visibility condition and flight may be rescheduled from the point of origin.;
- Only CAT-III aircraft to be scheduled during fog conditions alongwith CAT-III trained flight crew i.e. P1 & P2 as per visibility condition/RVR.;

- Non CAT-III compliant aircraft will have to be rescheduled between 1000 hours to 2000 hours.;
- All other conditions contained AIC 11 of 2009 should be strictly adhered to.