New Delhi: Come December, planes in the southern region may be able fly direct to their destinations instead of taking the longer, earmarked air corridors to circumvent defence airspace.
The implementation of flexible use of airspace will help airlines save on aviation turbine fuel costs. It will be introduced in a phased manner in other regions too. Commercial planes now cannot fly direct to their destinations as 65 per cent of the air space in the country is exclusively reserved for the defence ministry.
Huge volumes of expensive ATF are consumed due to the detours. ATF accounts for 40-50 per cent of aircraft operation costs. It also adds to greenhouse gases.
The matter of flexible use of airspace, an old demand, has been resolved with the cabinet committee on security clearing it in March. Though the Ajay Prasad committee recommended it way back in 2008, the matter was pushed by civil aviation minister Ajit Singh only recently.
30/06/13 KR Sudhaman/mydigitalfc.com
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The implementation of flexible use of airspace will help airlines save on aviation turbine fuel costs. It will be introduced in a phased manner in other regions too. Commercial planes now cannot fly direct to their destinations as 65 per cent of the air space in the country is exclusively reserved for the defence ministry.
Huge volumes of expensive ATF are consumed due to the detours. ATF accounts for 40-50 per cent of aircraft operation costs. It also adds to greenhouse gases.
The matter of flexible use of airspace, an old demand, has been resolved with the cabinet committee on security clearing it in March. Though the Ajay Prasad committee recommended it way back in 2008, the matter was pushed by civil aviation minister Ajit Singh only recently.
30/06/13 KR Sudhaman/mydigitalfc.com
