The analysis of Air Traffic Control (ATC) tape transcripts during the SpiceJet and IndiGo face-off by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed that at the time of the incident, VIP departure was being planned and one ‘follow-me’ jeep from the domestic apron was designated for the VIP flight, leading to unavailability of service for the IndiGo flight that was stuck due to low visibility.
A ‘follow-me’ service is a vehicle that shows the way to an aircraft in times of low visibility, from runway to parking bays after an aircraft lands and from bay to runway for an aircraft preparing to take-off.
The findings of the DGCA have revealed that on December 27, 2016, the visibility was below 50 mts. Since departures were on hold, the SpiceJet plane that was awaiting clearance for take-off, reported fuel shortage and decided to taxi back to the bay for refuelling. As the visibility was low the aircraft asked for ‘follow-me’ service but after some time the visibility improved and no ‘follow-me’ service arrived, the investigation finds.
The DGCA further mentioned that for every area a particular number of ‘follow-me’ jeeps are designated and at the time of the incident, a VIP departure was being planned and one of the ‘follow-me’ vehicles from domestic apron was designated for the VIP flight.“There is no separate ‘follow-me’ jeep for the VIP movement,” the report read.
17/01/18 Anvit Srivastava/DNA
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A ‘follow-me’ service is a vehicle that shows the way to an aircraft in times of low visibility, from runway to parking bays after an aircraft lands and from bay to runway for an aircraft preparing to take-off.
The findings of the DGCA have revealed that on December 27, 2016, the visibility was below 50 mts. Since departures were on hold, the SpiceJet plane that was awaiting clearance for take-off, reported fuel shortage and decided to taxi back to the bay for refuelling. As the visibility was low the aircraft asked for ‘follow-me’ service but after some time the visibility improved and no ‘follow-me’ service arrived, the investigation finds.
The DGCA further mentioned that for every area a particular number of ‘follow-me’ jeeps are designated and at the time of the incident, a VIP departure was being planned and one of the ‘follow-me’ vehicles from domestic apron was designated for the VIP flight.“There is no separate ‘follow-me’ jeep for the VIP movement,” the report read.
17/01/18 Anvit Srivastava/DNA
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