Lok Sabha Question No. 1107 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Cancellation of Flights due to Fog
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Nishikant  Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1107

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  8th February 2024 )

## CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS DUE TO FOG

1107.     KUNWAR DANISH ALI

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI

DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether a large number of domestic and international flights of various public and private sector airlines are delayed/cancelled due to dense fog during the current winter season and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  has taken  any  serious  note  of  the  flight  disruptions  due  to  fog  during winter and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the losses incurred by various airlines as a result thereof, airlinewise during the last five years and the current year;
- (d) whether large number of Delhi-bound flights were diverted due to unavailability of trained pilots to land during dense fog and if so, the total number of passengers who were severely affected during the year so far, airport-wise;
- (e) whether there is a shortage of such trained pilots in the country who can fly under foggy condition and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to obviate/minimise  problems  faced  by  various  airlines  in  taking  off and landing during dense fog conditions;
- (g) the names of the airports which have installed CAT-IIIB system in the country at present; and
- (h) the steps taken by the Government to ensure minimal cancellation/delays/diversion of flights during winters due to fog?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a): Yes Sir, the total number of flights delayed and cancelled during January, 2024 is 8038 and 496 respectively.

;

- (b):  Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducts meeting for  preparedness  of  fog/low  visibility  operations  for  smooth  flight operations with all the stakeholders before commencement of fog period and issues instructions in the form of Civil Aviation Requirements  (CAR)/  Circulars  and  Minutes  of  meeting  on  time  to time basis.
- ;

DGCA imposed Financial penalties of Rs.30 lakhs each on M/s Spice jet and M/s Air India as they have failed to comply with instructions regarding  rostering  of  pilot  issued  to  airlines  on  Low  Visibility Operations and Fog preparedness and also in violation of Para 4.4(b) of CAR section 8 series C Part 1 and Para 13 of AIC 11/2009.

- (c):    Details  of  losses  incurred  by  various  airlines  due  to  flight disruptions during fog is not available.;

;

- (d):  The  Delhi-bound  flights  were  diverted  due  to  crew  not  being qualified for low  visibility  operations.  However,  the  details  of passengers who were severely affected are not available.
- (e): The number of pilots trained for CAT-III has shown an increase of  16%  vis-a-vis  the  number  as  of  October  2023.  As  on  December 2023, total 6191 pilots (3744 P1/PIC (pilot in command) and 2447 P2( co-pilot)) have been trained in CAT II & CAT III.

(f): DGCA has instructed all the airlines to activate an EMERGENCY CONTROL ROOM (WAR ROOM) at each metro airports manned by top managers who are authorised to take prompt decisions and address any unforeseen developments in the shortest possible time including  any  passenger  complaints,  take  immediate  steps  for optimal  movement  of  aircraft  and  provide  adequate  amenities  for affected passengers in coordination with other stakeholders.; ; Airports Authority of India (AAI) has implemented different categories of Instrument Landing System (ILS) at various airports. The feasibility study to equip all the runways at 06 metro airports is under progress. ; (g): There are total 6 airports in India where Runway is certified for CAT III operations. (i) Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (ii) Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport Lucknow (iii) Jaipur International Airport (iv) Sri Guru Ram Das Jee international Airport, Amritsar (v) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (vi) Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.

(h): DGCA has issued regulations which mandates the operators to ensure that all flight crew members should be qualified for take-off, instrument  approaches  and  operations  to  the  lowest  CAT-I/II/III minima as applicable.

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