New Delhi/Panaji: The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday cracked the whip on four airlines for violating its directive and landing in unsafe conditions at Dabolim airport.
The DGCA had issued orders not to operate flights to Goa during certain hours of the day when ground navigational aids at Dabolim airport are not operational due to repair work.
Official sources said the DGCA was in the process of sending notices to Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir, JetLite and Jet Airways for having operated flights during “curfew hours” (from 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm).
In line with the DGCA action, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), one of the two Air India pilots’ unions, has also asked its members not to operate flights to Goa during this period when the only way to land would be to carry out “blind landings” or landings without navigational aids.
The DGCA had issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) about a week ago advising airlines not to operate flights during these hours when the ground-based radar system PAPI (precision approach path indicator, aviation jargon for runway lights) is non-functional.
“Despite our warnings to respect the curfew hours, some airlines have violated this directive. They will have to pay for it,” Director -General of Civil Aviation E K Bharat Bhushan said.
Bhushan said the NOTAM had warned all airlines not to operate flights of jet aircraft (not Jet Airways) during this period due to shutting down of the crucial navigational aids.
12/04/11 Deccan Herald
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