Concerned over disruption of flights during fog season, aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday started examining issues to make Delhi airport a ‘zero diversionary’ one by the year-end.
A technical committee, headed by DGCA’s Joint Director General lalit Gupta, was set up two days after a meeting DGCA’s new chief Prabhat Kumar had with representatives of all airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders on Tuesday.
The main term of reference of the 10-member panel would be to make Delhi a zero diversionary airport without compromising on safety of aircraft operations, according to the order issued by Kumar on Thursday. The committee has been asked to submit its report by March 31. The committee, which would include representatives of the met department, Airports Authority of India, Delhi International Airport limited, Air Traffic Control and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, would also prepare a comprehensive document on low visibility operations defining duties and responsibilities of all the stakeholders, the order said.
It would also look into issues pertaining to international operations and the modalities to deal with passengers stranded due to fog. Over 300 flights have been cancelled due to fog since Dec 17 last year, including 119 flights on a single day last week.