Did IAF deviate from flight plan?

Mumabi: It emerged on Thursday that the IAF helicopters involved in Monday’s near-miss incident with an Air India Airbus-321 not only failed to obtain the necessary clearance from Air Traffic Control but may also have deviated from the flight plan they had earlier submitted to ATC, further adding to the confusion between the convoy and ATC in Mumbai.
Sources said the helicopters also did not follow regular landing procedures in their approach to the airport. Runway 27 at Mumbai airport runs in an east-west direction, and landing approaches are required to be made from the east. Landing protocol required the Presidential convoy travelling from INS Kunjali – south of the airport – to “peel off in an easterly direction and approach the runway from [its] beginning when they made their final approach,” an official said. “The helicopters made their approach from the south, and did not follow protocol.”
In the flight plan submitted to ATC, the IAF stated that three Mi-8 helicopters would arrive at Santa Cruz airport, at an Estimated Time of Arrival later confirmed at 9.20 a.m. On Monday morning, President Patil’s convoy comprised two Mi-8 helicopters and one Mi-172 helicopter.
Changing aircraft without prior notification is a “serious breach of protocol under the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) rules,” said one official who did not want to be identified. It was the Mi-172 helicopter unexpectedly added to the convoy, ‘Pratap 2,’ that landed first on Runway 27 three minutes ahead of schedule, just as the Air India flight was heading down the runway for take-off. The leader of the convoy, Pratap 1, was still communicating with ATC when Pratap 2 landed.
The DGCA continued with its inquiries on Thursday, questioning the IAF pilots involved in the incident. Two air traffic controllers who were on duty at the time of the incident were derostered on Tuesday until inquiries are completed.
13/02/09 Ananth Krishnan/Mumbai

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Categories: Air India Domestic Feb 2009, NACIL Feb 2009, Safety Feb 2009