Aviation ministry assesses readiness as fog disrupts flight operations in Delhi

With dense fog conditions engulfing Delhi the Ministry of Civil Aviation convened a highlevel meeting to assess the readiness of various agencies and stakeholders in mitigating challenges posed by low visibility the officials said on ThursdayThe meeting aimed to ensure seamless coordination and safety during the foggy conditions said an officialAs part of the preparations drills were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of equipment and systems designed to handle multiple scenarios related to foginduced disruptions These exercises involved coordination between air traffic control airlines airport authorities and other stakeholders to keep the machinery and protocols fully operational said a MoCA officialStarting Monday several flights scheduled to land at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport have been diverted to alternate destinations due to safety concerns Only pilots trained in CATII Category 2 and CATIII Category 3 Instrument Landing Systems ILS are permitted to operate in such conditions as these systems are critical for navigating reduced visibility the MoCA official addedPassengers are advised to stay updated about flight schedules as diversions and delays may continue until weather conditions improve Airlines and airport authorities are working to minimize inconvenience to travelers while prioritizing safety said another senior MoCA officialThe Ministry in its statement said In response to the early onset of fogsmog in the National Capital Region a highlevel meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to assess readiness for such situations in order to ensure uninterrupted operations and better passenger comfort The meeting was attended by the Secretary Civil Aviation and other senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation DGCA BCAS Indian Meteorological Department the airport operator Delhi and representatives from various airlinesThe statement added All the airlines have confirmed adherence to DGCA guidelines to deploy CAT IIIII compliant aircraft and pilots in Delhi and other fogaffected airports Three out of four runways at the Delhi airport have activated CAT III ILS systems In addition the Delhi Airport operator has been advised to install LED screens at prominent locations to provide realtime updates on visibility conditions and to increase the availability of Follow Me vehicles to guide aircraft during low visibility situationsSince Monday multiple flights have faced disruptions diversions and delays due to the weather conditions The IMD on Monday had also issued an orange alert for Delhi due to the dense fog conditions