Kingfisher, Jet seek ATC help in bad times

A Jet Airways delegation and Kingfisher Airlines officials met Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials to suggest ways to reduce losses. “They told us that they are facing recession and wanted the ATC to help in overcoming it. They discussed points like how to decongest air traffic at Mumbai,” said a senior ATC official.
One suggestion was to reduce runway occupancy time from the current 75 seconds to 60 seconds. In other countries the runway occupancy time is around 30-40 seconds. “Airlines can reduce the runway occupancy time. They should train their pilots to vacate the runway quickly,” said an official from the Mumbai airport. The ATC should allow exchange of arrival slots between the airlines. If an aircraft with less fuel is flying over Mumbai, it should be allowed to land first rather than the one in the queue.
They also suggested that runway 32 of 14:32 should have performance-based navigation for landing as it does not have instrument landing system.
“We also want minimum separation between two aircraft to be reduced from five miles to three miles,” said a Jet Airways source.
10/11/08 Navita Singh/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Nov 2008, Jet Airways Nov 2008, Kingfisher Nov 2008