Non-scheduled private aircraft flout peak-hour rule, congest airport

Mumbai: At least six private charter planes, that are not allowed to land at the Mumbai airport during peak hour restrictions due to extreme congestion, are known to have landed at the airport between April 3 and 5, violating norms issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The rule, that does not allow movement of any non-scheduled aircraft during peak traffic hours, has been in place for three years now but is among the few that are frequently violated. “It has consistently been one of the most important messages in the various notices to airmen (NOTAMs) which are routinely issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI),” said an airport official on condition of anonymity. “But ever since its issue in NOTAM No. A0283 in 2007 approximately 10 such movements of non-scheduled aircrafts have been taking place on a daily basis,” he added.
The peak hours at the Mumbai airport are between 8 am and 10 am and between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. “During these hours we are literally doing one movement every minute and so the pressure is intense. If a non-scheduled aircraft comes in between the scheduled ones it considerably slows the operation and increases runway occupancy time (ROT),” said an official. The reason being that non-scheduled aircrafts are small planes that are much slower in terms of take off speed and take longer to clear the airspace after taking off.
Another source at the airport informed Newsline that the DGCA circular only allows movement of VVIP aircrafts during peak hours, according to the NOTAMs- advisories issued to airmen to alert aircraft pilots of any hazards en route or at a specific location.
14/04/09 Shashank Shekhar/ExpressIndia

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Categories: Airports Apr 2009, Safety Apr 2009