Training pilots for CAT-III a costly affair, say airlines

New Delhi: Under strict instructions from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), most airlines, with the major exception of Spice Jet, now have a fleet of CAT-III trained pilots. However, not all of them again have a very large number of trained pilots. The basic reason for this, say airlines, is the huge cost of training pilots for only about 10 days of fog operations, which is just not cost effective for them. For CAT-III operations, a flight needs to have the aircraft CAT-III compliant and both the Captain and First Officer certified for the process.
Against their earlier policy of penalising airlines, the DGCA has now adopted a policy of persuaion and encouragement. "We have not issued any written instructions to airlines this time but have simplified several procedures, like authorising airlines to train and certify their own pilots. It is in their benefit and for the good of passengers that airlines are able to operate during low visibility and we will do all we can to assist airlines with it,'' said DGCA chief, Naseem Zaidi.
Certain aircraft types are also not CAT-III compliant. "The ATR and Boeing 737 for instance, are only CAT-II compliant. For Spice Jet, that has ATRs, there is no point in training pilots for CAT-III operations,'' said an airline official.
Private airlines say that the process of getting pilots trained for CAT-III is not only expensive, but also a rigorous process and hence, not worth it for the 10 days or so of fog. "For CAT-IIIB, pilots first have to go through training for CAT-II and then CAT-IIIA. CAT-III landing is also available only at Delhi airport. It is really not a very practical proposal for several carriers,'' said a private airline official.
12/12/08 Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Dec 2008, Indian Aviation- In General Dec 2008