Low-cost carriers join hands to battle fog

To tide over the disruptions caused by heavy fog during the winter season, low-cost carriers are considering coming to each other's aid. According to industry sources, Air Deccan, Go Air, SpiceJet and Indigo Airlines are working on a strategy to accommodate each other’s passengers in case of flight delays or cancellations at Delhi and Kolkata airports. The revenue settlements among the airlines on such accommodation will be made at the end of the month.
Though the operators will be required to comply with the CAT III A to operate aircraft in low visibility during fog, the pilots, who have received CAT III training but have not yet operated in such low-visibility conditions will be allowed to operate during the season. As per the directorate general of Civil Aviation regulations, operators are required to operate under CAT I for one year and within the next six months provide CAT II training to the pilots, who have successfully operated under CAT I. Only then the pilots can progress to CAT III.
The new airlines, which are not yet CAT III compliant, would be advised to change their schedules to be able to operate safely and efficiently in CAT II category and the passengers are not affected by undue delays leading to chaos at the airport, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.
15/11/06 Atreyee Dev Roy/Financial Express