Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Mohsin
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the fog period spans from December 10 to February 10, with a specific window for CAT III (Category 3) operations, an instrument landing system.
Recent data from Delhi airport officials reveal that approximately 86% of Delhi-bound flights were diverted due to a shortage of trained pilots equipped to handle landings in dense fog conditions.
Among the diversions, IndiGo experienced the highest number, with 13 flights diverted, attributed to the airline not rostering pilots trained for landings during the fog season. Air India and SpiceJet followed with 10 diversions each.
Five Vistara, three Akasa, and two Alliance Air flights were also diverted due to the unavailability of pilots trained for bad weather conditions. Other airlines, including VietJet, Malindo Air, Fly Dubai, Air Asia, and Ethiopian Airlines, also faced diversions for similar reasons.
CAT III, an instrument landing system (ILS), allows aircraft to land in low visibility scenarios, such as dense fog or heavy rainfall, with a minimum visibility requirement of 50 meters.
Industry insiders note that the initial days of the fog season are challenging, as CAT III-compliant pilots are occupied in other sectors. However, as the season progresses, airlines typically roster them according to requirements.
While airport officials attribute flight diversions to the lack of prioritized CAT III training and pilot unavailability, some highlight that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) operates with only one CAT III-compliant runway due to infrastructure constraints, leading to consequential delays and diversions.
Despite the importance of CAT III training for pilots, industry experts suggest that the cost is relatively low for airlines, not exceeding Rs.3 lakhs per pilot. The investment includes both classroom and simulator training, emphasizing its feasibility for ensuring operational readiness in adverse weather conditions.