The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday asked the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) not to use the reverse thrust technique during the flight operations. The green body has further instructed DGCA officials to give incentives to those pilots who do not use the said “reverse thrust” technique.
The green body has also directed the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to submit its views on effective use of “reverse thrust” to decrease noise pollution caused due to operation of flights at the airport.
As per the case no 60 of CHETNA vs Union Of India (copy available with The Pioneer) , the NGT sought replies from the DGCA and asked, “Whether is it possible to reduce reverse thrust while landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) IJ”
As per the DGCA reply to NGT the DGCA has issued a Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on the Noise Management of aircraft management of Aircraft operations at airports on September 18, 2014. “The CAR has directed aircraft operators to develop safe operating procedure to land at any airport with minimal use of thrust reverser without comprising the safety and capacity of runway,” the order quoted.
Meanwhile, the NGT in its direction further asked the DGCA that weather a noise barrier can be constructed along with the southern side of IGI airport and whether the barrier will have any benefitIJ
The DGCA in his reply said navigational aids are placed on the ground of southern side of the runway 29 to ensure safe operations of aircraft navigation at the IGI airport.
However, Anil Sood, the petitioner said so far as the construction of noise barrier is concerned shockingly no one is telling the truth that the small ground radars can be relocated to the other side of the runway. Moreover, DIAl has already constructed peripheral wall around airport which is far away from runway, only question is of raising height.
But it would not do so because it would cost money.
According to aviation experts, reverse thrust causes noise pollution. An aviation expert said the purpose of using of reverse thrust is in cases where runway is wet so that the aircraft comes to a halt. “The airlines encourage use of reverse thrust because the cost of replacement of brake pads and tyres is high in comparison to discomfort caused to the citizens. Normally the cooling time for brake pads and tyres if used instead of reverse thrust is about 90 minutes.”
“The DGCA is blowing hot and cold over this issue. On one hand it is claiming that it is signatory to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms and has to follow all the ICAO Norms, whereas once it comes to compliance of those norms, they are not implementing the same” said the aviation expert.
Narrating the fight operation situations in India, the expert said when Indian pilots fly abroad they rarely use the reverse thrust and comply with the ICAO norms because there they have to offer explanations and are fined but not in India because the regulator has appointed pilots as its Inspectors who would never penalise their own colleagues.