The Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel today received the Report of the Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Ajay Prasad which had been set up for formulating a Master Plan for Next Generation Futuristic Air Navigation Services. The Committee had been set up on 20th March, 2007.
The Committee has made several recommendations on various aspects of Air Navigation Services:
The Committee has recommended that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should immediately implement the International standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) which stipulates that Air Traffic Flow Management shall be implemented for airspace where air traffic demand at times exceeds capacity. The Committee has also stressed that Automation is essential and there are a number of solutions available like Terminal automation, Integrated Automation, Intergraded Oceanic, Strategic Flight Planning across airspace etc.
On Airspace Management, the Committee recommends that AAI should consolidate airspace from the existing four Flight Information Region (FIRs) to two FIRs with two Area Control Centres, one at Delhi and the other at Mumbai. The Airspace should be an integrated one with automated Air Traffic Management (ATM) system and have networked Radars and Very High Frequencies (VHFs).
The Committee has recommended that AAI should immediately review Air Traffic Control (ATC) Procedures being followed at various airports, especially at Metro Airports and initiate action to increase the capacity of handling air traffic. AAI should take this as a continuous exercise and strive to achieve optimization of the procedures. AAI should also implement these Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures at Mumbai and Delhi as soon as they are finalized.
In this regard, on ATC delays, the Committee has said that an ATC delay of more than five minutes should be considered as significant and the capacity to handle the air traffic should be determined accordingly. Once a capacity is analyzed scientifically, the system should not be overloaded.
On Voice Communication System (VCS), the Committee has said that the AAI plan to complete VHF coverage through out the continental space at a height 20,000 feet and above should be implemented on priority by May, 2008. To meet the International Standards of ICAO, AAI should provide VHF coverage in Area Control Centres which have been declared as Class ‘D’ airspace and are required to provide VHF coverage to all Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights. AAI should use the Dedicated Satellite Communication Network (DSCN) for operating the Remote Control Air to Ground (RCAG) VHF equipments.
On Data Link Communication Systems, the Committee has recommended that AAI should upgrade the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) facility to Digital Automatic Information Service (DATIS) facility having both Voice and Data Link capabilities at the earliest. AAI should provide Data link Application for departure clearances and facility for data communication link to communicate with all Air Traffic service units – especially for Mumbai and Delhi by August, 2008.
On Navigation Systems, the Committee has said that the Area Navigation and the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) routes which significantly enhance the capacity of air space, should be adopted by AAI for both domestic and international routes. The AAI should on priority design and provide Approaches with Vertical Guidance for runways not equipped with Instrumental Landing Systems (ILS). AAI should also install Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) at Delhi and Mumbai airports.
On Surveillance Systems, the Committee has recommended that the AAI should operationalise Behrampur Radar immediately by using dedicated Satellite Communication System. AAI should install all 10 Radars on priority as it helps reducing the spacing of aircraft and increasing the capacity of airspace. AAI should network all Radars by 2008-09 and the 10 new Radars being procured should be commissioned in the network permitting them to operate from the Area Control Centres of Delhi and Mumbai.
On Air Traffic Services (ATSs), the Committee has said that the Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) should be provided standardized functional capabilities of Air Traffic Services support systems like conflict prediction, detection, advisory and resolution needs.
The Committee recommends that the Flexible Use of Airspace should be accepted as underline basis for optimizing the use of Indian airspace for meeting the needs of both military and civil aviation for the country, which has been accepted by the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force (IAF). A high-level committee of the Government should be constituted for common use of Indian airspace and for working out ways of flexible use of airspace. The Committee feels that the IAF should review the Restricted and Danger Areas expeditiously.
As a first step, the airspace above 29,000 feet could be released for civil traffic in the presently defined restricted/danger airspace. The Defence requirements would have a priority of not only increasing their height requirements but also expanding the restricted airspace, whenever required. To divert the planned civilian traffic and not to cause undue hardship to passengers, a notice of at least 24 hours would need to be given. The normal air Defence traffic would continue to use the upper airspace above 29,000 feet along with the civilian air traffic as at present.
On Aviation Weather Services, the Committee has stressed upon the necessity for seamless bi-directional flow of Met-Data between the Meteorological Department and AAI. It has recommended the setting up of a National Aviation Meteorological Centre (NAMC) under the Indian Meteorological Department to meet aviation weather requirements of all stakeholders. There should a provision of web based meteorological briefing system to enable user agency to have direct access to weather information. The Committee has also recommended clear demarcation of the dual functional responsibilities of AAI as an ‘Aerodrome Operator’ and of an Air Navigation Service provider.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation will now considered the recommendations of the Committee.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
JOKE: Air Traffic (out of) Control
During a taxi, the crew of a US Air departure flight to Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose-to-nose with a United 727. The irate ground controller (a female) lashed out at the US Air crew screaming, "US Air 2771, where are you going? I told you to turn right on 'Charlie' taxi way; you turned right on 'Delta.' Stop right there. I know it's difficult to tell the difference between a C and a D, but get it right."
Continuing her lashing to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically, "You've screwed everything up; it'll take forever to sort this out. You stay right there and don't move until I tell you to. You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about a half hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you. You got that, US Air 2771?"
Naturally, the "ground control" frequency went terribly silent until an unknown male pilot broke the silence and asked, "Wasn't I married to you once?"
Continuing her lashing to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically, "You've screwed everything up; it'll take forever to sort this out. You stay right there and don't move until I tell you to. You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about a half hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you. You got that, US Air 2771?"
Naturally, the "ground control" frequency went terribly silent until an unknown male pilot broke the silence and asked, "Wasn't I married to you once?"
Thursday, March 20, 2008
GHIAL to halve handling fees
Ministry softens towards domestic carriers.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), the consortium operating the new Hyderabad airport, today offered to halve ground-handling charges even as the civil aviation ministry allowed the domestic carriers to undertake their ground-handling till January 1, 2009.
This will give the two sides enough time to resolve the contentious issue, which almost jeopardised the opening of the new airport and forced a postponement once.
“The ministry has allowed the airlines to do their own ground-handling till such time as the issue over high rates is resolved between the airlines and the new service providers,” said Rajesh Verma, executive vice-president, Kingfisher Airlines, to Business Standard. The development took place late tonight.
To compensate for the loss to the ground-handling companies — Menzies Bobba Aviation and a consortium of Air India-Singapore Airport Terminal Services(SATS) — the airport developer has also decided to forego its 25 per cent share of revenues.
These moves follow strong protests from domestic carriers against the airport’s original decision to charge a stiff Rs 19,000 per aircraft.
Domestic airlines had also opposed the government’s move to disallow them from operating their own ground-handling operations and compulsorily outsource to companies mandated by the airport operator, a demand that has now been conceded to by the government.
GHIAL had reduced rates to Rs 12,500 for low-cost carrier SpiceJet in the last couple of weeks and has now offered a further cut to Rs 9,500.
However, face-off continued with the two unable to come to an agreement over ground-handling charges three days ahead of commercial operations.
But with the carriers being allowed to do their own ground- handling, there will be enough time for the two sides to come to a settlement on the issue after January 1, 2009.
GHIAL said an amicable agreement will be reached but airline executives said today’s new offer is still much higher than what they spend on their own ground-handling services.
Hectic negotiations were on between carriers and ground-handling companies and the price could be brought down to between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000.
At the moment airlines which undertake their own ground handling spend around Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per flight. If they outsource, prevailing rates in airports like Mumbai and Delhi are around Rs 8,000.
Said Wolsgang Prock-Schauer, CEO of Jet Airways, the country’s largest private airline: “We have not signed a ground-handling agreement with GHIAL. Their costs are too high, we want to continue self handling and we are prepared for that.”
New airport to start on March 23
The new Hyderabad airport has received a notification from the ministry of civil aviation to start operations from March 23. The airport, the first of the new facilities under the public-private model to start operations, was originally meant to start on March 16.
http://www.business-standard.com
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), the consortium operating the new Hyderabad airport, today offered to halve ground-handling charges even as the civil aviation ministry allowed the domestic carriers to undertake their ground-handling till January 1, 2009.
This will give the two sides enough time to resolve the contentious issue, which almost jeopardised the opening of the new airport and forced a postponement once.
“The ministry has allowed the airlines to do their own ground-handling till such time as the issue over high rates is resolved between the airlines and the new service providers,” said Rajesh Verma, executive vice-president, Kingfisher Airlines, to Business Standard. The development took place late tonight.
To compensate for the loss to the ground-handling companies — Menzies Bobba Aviation and a consortium of Air India-Singapore Airport Terminal Services(SATS) — the airport developer has also decided to forego its 25 per cent share of revenues.
These moves follow strong protests from domestic carriers against the airport’s original decision to charge a stiff Rs 19,000 per aircraft.
Domestic airlines had also opposed the government’s move to disallow them from operating their own ground-handling operations and compulsorily outsource to companies mandated by the airport operator, a demand that has now been conceded to by the government.
GHIAL had reduced rates to Rs 12,500 for low-cost carrier SpiceJet in the last couple of weeks and has now offered a further cut to Rs 9,500.
However, face-off continued with the two unable to come to an agreement over ground-handling charges three days ahead of commercial operations.
But with the carriers being allowed to do their own ground- handling, there will be enough time for the two sides to come to a settlement on the issue after January 1, 2009.
GHIAL said an amicable agreement will be reached but airline executives said today’s new offer is still much higher than what they spend on their own ground-handling services.
Hectic negotiations were on between carriers and ground-handling companies and the price could be brought down to between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000.
At the moment airlines which undertake their own ground handling spend around Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per flight. If they outsource, prevailing rates in airports like Mumbai and Delhi are around Rs 8,000.
Said Wolsgang Prock-Schauer, CEO of Jet Airways, the country’s largest private airline: “We have not signed a ground-handling agreement with GHIAL. Their costs are too high, we want to continue self handling and we are prepared for that.”
New airport to start on March 23
The new Hyderabad airport has received a notification from the ministry of civil aviation to start operations from March 23. The airport, the first of the new facilities under the public-private model to start operations, was originally meant to start on March 16.
http://www.business-standard.com
old Hyd airport can be used for chartered flights: GMR counsel
HYDERABAD: In an argument in the AP High Court, GMR’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi conceded that Begumpet could be used for chartered flights.
After the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi formally inaugurated the facility spread across 5,500 acres on the outskirts of the city on March 14, the commercial operations were expected to start from the midnight of March 15.
However, the ministry had postponed the commercial launch due to "operational reasons".
Subsequently, the airlines had come out in the open opposing certain charges including the ground handling charges being levied on them at the new airport.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which has developed the airport, had awarded the ground handling contracts to two consortia and the issue of ground handling charges too was left to the consortia to finalise.
Private airlines have been claiming that the exorbitant ground handling charges would make the operations of airlines particularly for low cost carriers unviable pushing them into the red.
"The issue (of ground handling charges) has been amicably solved by both the parties," GHIAL’s CFO Rajgopal Swami told TOI without disclosing the details of the resolution.
However, sources in know of the negotiations told TOI that the ground handlers had agreed to reduce the charges to "a certain level". "It’s a pleasant surprise for the airlines," the source said.
TOI
After the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi formally inaugurated the facility spread across 5,500 acres on the outskirts of the city on March 14, the commercial operations were expected to start from the midnight of March 15.
However, the ministry had postponed the commercial launch due to "operational reasons".
Subsequently, the airlines had come out in the open opposing certain charges including the ground handling charges being levied on them at the new airport.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which has developed the airport, had awarded the ground handling contracts to two consortia and the issue of ground handling charges too was left to the consortia to finalise.
Private airlines have been claiming that the exorbitant ground handling charges would make the operations of airlines particularly for low cost carriers unviable pushing them into the red.
"The issue (of ground handling charges) has been amicably solved by both the parties," GHIAL’s CFO Rajgopal Swami told TOI without disclosing the details of the resolution.
However, sources in know of the negotiations told TOI that the ground handlers had agreed to reduce the charges to "a certain level". "It’s a pleasant surprise for the airlines," the source said.
TOI
Shamshabad set for take-off
HYDERABAD: Ending a week-long suspense, the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) on Thursday suddenly decided to throw open commercial operations at the Shamshabad airport from the midnight of March 22, 2008.
The ministry also decided to pull down the curtains over the existing airport at Begumpet despite many private airlines and some sections of public opposing the move.
The MoCA move came even as the airlines and ground handling companies were still in talks in a bid to resolve the impasse arising out of the dispute over ground handling charges. "The ministry suddenly decided to force the agitating airlines to fall in line and start flying in and out of the new airport. With Lok Sabha going into recess, the ministry decided to open the airport. If Parliament were on, it would have faced opposition in the House," said a source. Meanwhile, representatives of private airlines who had become voluble in recent days about the need to keep Begumpet open went scurrying for cover after the announcement was made.
As per the schedule of Shamshabad airport, Lufthansa's Frankfurt-Hyderabad flight will be the first to land at the airport on Saturday midnight. The new airport authorities have also decided to waive off the user development fee (UDF) of Rs 1,000 to be levied on the outbound international passengers till March 28, 2008. Similarly, no fee will be charged on vehicle parking for the first week.
The 76-year-old Begumpet airport will now be open only for aircraft owned or operated by the Indian Air Force or other armed forces, para-military forces and police. The existing airport will also be used for transportation of VIPs by special government-owned, leased or hired aircraft.
The ministry has also transferred the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code "HYD" for the existing airport to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Striking the last nail on the existing airport's coffin, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also decided to amend the licence issued to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the Begumpet airport allowing it to be available for general aviation services other than those relating to "commercial aircraft, charter flights, aircraft hired or operated under commercial arrangements".
Courtesy : TOI
The ministry also decided to pull down the curtains over the existing airport at Begumpet despite many private airlines and some sections of public opposing the move.
The MoCA move came even as the airlines and ground handling companies were still in talks in a bid to resolve the impasse arising out of the dispute over ground handling charges. "The ministry suddenly decided to force the agitating airlines to fall in line and start flying in and out of the new airport. With Lok Sabha going into recess, the ministry decided to open the airport. If Parliament were on, it would have faced opposition in the House," said a source. Meanwhile, representatives of private airlines who had become voluble in recent days about the need to keep Begumpet open went scurrying for cover after the announcement was made.
As per the schedule of Shamshabad airport, Lufthansa's Frankfurt-Hyderabad flight will be the first to land at the airport on Saturday midnight. The new airport authorities have also decided to waive off the user development fee (UDF) of Rs 1,000 to be levied on the outbound international passengers till March 28, 2008. Similarly, no fee will be charged on vehicle parking for the first week.
The 76-year-old Begumpet airport will now be open only for aircraft owned or operated by the Indian Air Force or other armed forces, para-military forces and police. The existing airport will also be used for transportation of VIPs by special government-owned, leased or hired aircraft.
The ministry has also transferred the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code "HYD" for the existing airport to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Striking the last nail on the existing airport's coffin, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also decided to amend the licence issued to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the Begumpet airport allowing it to be available for general aviation services other than those relating to "commercial aircraft, charter flights, aircraft hired or operated under commercial arrangements".
Courtesy : TOI
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Controllers apprehensive about air safety at Devanahalli airport: THE HINDU
Bangalore: For an airport that was to commence operations in March, now postponed to May, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility ought to have been up and running. Instead, on a mid-March morning, just six weeks away from the date of commissioning of the airport, chaos reigns at the ATC facility at the international airport in Devanahalli.
Whiling away time
Highly skilled controllers, instead of working at their consoles, are counting tables and chairs and discussing the blinds that should be put on the windows to prevent light from falling directly on the screens that will monitor traffic at the airport.
That the BIAL missed the March deadline is well known, but has it also cut corners?
Controllers are apprehensive about air safety at the new airport.
For example, there is just one lift to the 20-storeyed Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. A senior controller posted at the new airport since December said that in the event of its breakdown controllers would have to climb 20 floors.
This could “disorient” a controller.
“How can he respond appropriately in an emergency,” he asked. Controllers with heart ailments and other health disorders would find it impossible to make the steep climb.
He pointed out that the ATC at the new airport at Shamshabad in Hyderabad is equipped with two lifts.
‘Standards met’
In response to a specific question posed by The Hindu about employees’ apprehension that a single lift at the ATC may compromise safety, Albert Brunner, CEO of BIAL, said, “Care has been taken to ensure that safety standards are met as per international standards.”
He said the various buildings within the airport “have been built after taking approvals from the respective authorities”.
Runway lighting
Controllers at Devanahalli also said the runway lacked central lights, which are embedded along the centre of the runway, to aid visual navigation by pilots as they land or take off.
These are considered state of the art in new airports and have been provided at the Hyderabad airport.
They also complained that the non-availability of turning pads at the ends of the runway, which aid manoeuvring of aircraft, was another example of “cost cutting”.
A senior controller told The Hindu that the approach control area of the ATC, which is the area from where controllers guide approaching airborne aircraft, is about one-fifth the size of the facility in the new airport at Hyderabad.
It is expected that controllers may have to handle at least 420 movements a day (each arrival or departure of an aircraft is considered a “movement”).
There are just two rest rooms, one measuring about 50 sq. ft and another measuring about 150 sq. ft, for the more than 30 controllers at the airport.
While the first room has barely enough room for one person, the second can accommodate three cots. Each controller is entitled to four hours of rest after a shift, pointed out one controller.
“This is a high pressure job. That has escaped the attention of those at the helm,” he said.
Whiling away time
Highly skilled controllers, instead of working at their consoles, are counting tables and chairs and discussing the blinds that should be put on the windows to prevent light from falling directly on the screens that will monitor traffic at the airport.
That the BIAL missed the March deadline is well known, but has it also cut corners?
Controllers are apprehensive about air safety at the new airport.
For example, there is just one lift to the 20-storeyed Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. A senior controller posted at the new airport since December said that in the event of its breakdown controllers would have to climb 20 floors.
This could “disorient” a controller.
“How can he respond appropriately in an emergency,” he asked. Controllers with heart ailments and other health disorders would find it impossible to make the steep climb.
He pointed out that the ATC at the new airport at Shamshabad in Hyderabad is equipped with two lifts.
‘Standards met’
In response to a specific question posed by The Hindu about employees’ apprehension that a single lift at the ATC may compromise safety, Albert Brunner, CEO of BIAL, said, “Care has been taken to ensure that safety standards are met as per international standards.”
He said the various buildings within the airport “have been built after taking approvals from the respective authorities”.
Runway lighting
Controllers at Devanahalli also said the runway lacked central lights, which are embedded along the centre of the runway, to aid visual navigation by pilots as they land or take off.
These are considered state of the art in new airports and have been provided at the Hyderabad airport.
They also complained that the non-availability of turning pads at the ends of the runway, which aid manoeuvring of aircraft, was another example of “cost cutting”.
A senior controller told The Hindu that the approach control area of the ATC, which is the area from where controllers guide approaching airborne aircraft, is about one-fifth the size of the facility in the new airport at Hyderabad.
It is expected that controllers may have to handle at least 420 movements a day (each arrival or departure of an aircraft is considered a “movement”).
There are just two rest rooms, one measuring about 50 sq. ft and another measuring about 150 sq. ft, for the more than 30 controllers at the airport.
While the first room has barely enough room for one person, the second can accommodate three cots. Each controller is entitled to four hours of rest after a shift, pointed out one controller.
“This is a high pressure job. That has escaped the attention of those at the helm,” he said.
Monday, March 17, 2008
BIAL airport fails to take off on schedule
IT'S now official. The new Bangalore International Airport will be opened only on May 11, 2008. The postponement from March 30 to May 11 was announced on Thursday citing a delay sought by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The airport issue has been hogging the headlines for a fortnight. Should the city retain its old HAL Airport? Should it be abandoned totally? Will the new BIAL Airport measure up to challenges of growing air traffic? Or should both airports function simultaneously? These were some of the questions asked.
Though postponement of the inauguration by a month was a certainty, the BIAL was in no mood to defer the deadline. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had sought a month's time to give clearance to Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Air Safety arrangements. It will be installing the requisite equipment by March 20. It would then need 1,000 hours of what is known as 'hot-standby' period before the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance-Air Traffic Management (ATM-CNS) is fully opertionalised.
This is considered crucial for ensuring air safety. But Albert Brunner, BIAL CEO, brushed aside all these issues. He had stuck to the March 30 deadline for start of operations. Meanwhile, Public Interest Litigations (PIL) from citizens wanted the old HAL Airport. They hade pleaded against flight operations being shifted to BIAL on the grounds of poor connectivity (the approach route is still not ready) and the user charges to be levied on passengers.
A seminar on 'Should HAL Airport be closed?' last week turned into a slanging match. S. R. Iyer, deputy general manager of the HAL Airport argued for retention of the old airport as BIAL has only 35 per cent more capacity than the HAL. "And it will be saturated very soon,’’ he feared. Brunner said retaining of the HAL would breach an agreement with the Government of India which called for the closure of HAL Airport. It would also shake investors' confidence in Swiss company which would like to be part of more BIAL projects.
Amid all this confusion, work on the dirt track to Devanahalli where the new airport is located is make slow, snails progress.
An exercise in accountancy
With no government in the state, a budget becomes an 'exercise in accountancy'. That is what Union Finance Minister P. Chidambram did when he presented the Karnataka Budget 2007-2008 on March 10.
Understandably, no new welfare schemes or development programmes was announced, given the apolitical nature of the presentation. However, considerabe hikes in allocations for agriculture, (an 18 per cent increase over the previous year) education, santation and health have been praised by the state media.
The fiscal deficit management to within three per cent too drew praise from the finance minister.
'Golden Chariot' gets going
Amidst festive scenes, South India's first luxury train, 'Golden Chariot' rolled out of Bangalore's northern railway terminal Yeshwanthpur on March 10.
On board the 19-coach train on its maiden journey were 65 VIP guests, 15 booked passengers and 15 journalists.
The train passes through Tippu Sultan's capital Srirangapatnam, Mysore, Kabini reservoir resort, the Jain pilgrim centre at Shravanabelagola, the famous temple towns of Belur; Halebid, capital of the medieval kingdom of Hampi, caves of Badami and Aihole, and the scenic resort at Pattadakal.
Taken from http://www.khaleejtimes.com
The airport issue has been hogging the headlines for a fortnight. Should the city retain its old HAL Airport? Should it be abandoned totally? Will the new BIAL Airport measure up to challenges of growing air traffic? Or should both airports function simultaneously? These were some of the questions asked.
Though postponement of the inauguration by a month was a certainty, the BIAL was in no mood to defer the deadline. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had sought a month's time to give clearance to Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Air Safety arrangements. It will be installing the requisite equipment by March 20. It would then need 1,000 hours of what is known as 'hot-standby' period before the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance-Air Traffic Management (ATM-CNS) is fully opertionalised.
This is considered crucial for ensuring air safety. But Albert Brunner, BIAL CEO, brushed aside all these issues. He had stuck to the March 30 deadline for start of operations. Meanwhile, Public Interest Litigations (PIL) from citizens wanted the old HAL Airport. They hade pleaded against flight operations being shifted to BIAL on the grounds of poor connectivity (the approach route is still not ready) and the user charges to be levied on passengers.
A seminar on 'Should HAL Airport be closed?' last week turned into a slanging match. S. R. Iyer, deputy general manager of the HAL Airport argued for retention of the old airport as BIAL has only 35 per cent more capacity than the HAL. "And it will be saturated very soon,’’ he feared. Brunner said retaining of the HAL would breach an agreement with the Government of India which called for the closure of HAL Airport. It would also shake investors' confidence in Swiss company which would like to be part of more BIAL projects.
Amid all this confusion, work on the dirt track to Devanahalli where the new airport is located is make slow, snails progress.
An exercise in accountancy
With no government in the state, a budget becomes an 'exercise in accountancy'. That is what Union Finance Minister P. Chidambram did when he presented the Karnataka Budget 2007-2008 on March 10.
Understandably, no new welfare schemes or development programmes was announced, given the apolitical nature of the presentation. However, considerabe hikes in allocations for agriculture, (an 18 per cent increase over the previous year) education, santation and health have been praised by the state media.
The fiscal deficit management to within three per cent too drew praise from the finance minister.
'Golden Chariot' gets going
Amidst festive scenes, South India's first luxury train, 'Golden Chariot' rolled out of Bangalore's northern railway terminal Yeshwanthpur on March 10.
On board the 19-coach train on its maiden journey were 65 VIP guests, 15 booked passengers and 15 journalists.
The train passes through Tippu Sultan's capital Srirangapatnam, Mysore, Kabini reservoir resort, the Jain pilgrim centre at Shravanabelagola, the famous temple towns of Belur; Halebid, capital of the medieval kingdom of Hampi, caves of Badami and Aihole, and the scenic resort at Pattadakal.
Taken from http://www.khaleejtimes.com
Pilots fallen asleep
HONOLULU - The pilots of an inter-island flight from Honolulu to Hilo failed to respond to air traffic controllers 11 times as it overshot its destination by 15 miles while flying at an altitude of 21,000 feet.
According to air traffic control tapes obtained by TV station KGMB, a controller monitoring airspace around Maui repeatedly tried to raise the two pilots of the go! flight on Feb. 13. They are being investigated for possibly falling asleep during the 214-mile flight.
The controller was initially unable to contact the pilots of Flight 1002 when she tried to call them about 15 minutes after the plane left Honolulu.
Finally, about 32 minutes into the flight, the captain responded, and the controller said: "Air shuttle 1002, guys, I've been trying to contact you for the last 90 to 100 miles. I understand you've passed Hilo, I'm going to turn you back to the northeast bound to get you back to the Hilo airport. Is there some kind of emergency situation going on?"
"Uh no emergency situation," the captain said.
After listening to the tapes, airline analyst Peter Foreman told KGMB on Friday that it was clear something was wrong.
"By the time you get 60 miles from your destination, it's time to descend," he said. "So obviously someone was not minding the store."
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the flight had no mechanical problems, but its preliminary report reached no conclusion as to why the plane overshot Hilo International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
Go!'s parent company, Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, grounded both pilots while the investigations continued.
The flight, which also carried 40 passengers and a flight attendant, landed safely
According to air traffic control tapes obtained by TV station KGMB, a controller monitoring airspace around Maui repeatedly tried to raise the two pilots of the go! flight on Feb. 13. They are being investigated for possibly falling asleep during the 214-mile flight.
The controller was initially unable to contact the pilots of Flight 1002 when she tried to call them about 15 minutes after the plane left Honolulu.
Finally, about 32 minutes into the flight, the captain responded, and the controller said: "Air shuttle 1002, guys, I've been trying to contact you for the last 90 to 100 miles. I understand you've passed Hilo, I'm going to turn you back to the northeast bound to get you back to the Hilo airport. Is there some kind of emergency situation going on?"
"Uh no emergency situation," the captain said.
After listening to the tapes, airline analyst Peter Foreman told KGMB on Friday that it was clear something was wrong.
"By the time you get 60 miles from your destination, it's time to descend," he said. "So obviously someone was not minding the store."
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the flight had no mechanical problems, but its preliminary report reached no conclusion as to why the plane overshot Hilo International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating.
Go!'s parent company, Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, grounded both pilots while the investigations continued.
The flight, which also carried 40 passengers and a flight attendant, landed safely
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Govt. fixes standards for proficiency in English for Pilots and ATCO's
In a bid to standardise English proficiency for all functions relating to flying over Indian airspace, government has laid down the minimum standards for proficiency skills of personnel, including pilots and air traffic controllers, and made it effective from this week.
Proficiency in English was made mandatory for pilots, air traffic controllers and other concerned staff operating in India after the November 11, 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, but no standard was set for the purpose.
A major cause of the collision was that the pilot of one of the aircraft could not understand the English directives of the ATC and brought the aircraft down to the same height as that of the other plane, instead of gaining height. This had led to the collision.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has brought out a circular, which says that all aircraft personnel like pilots, flight engineers and flight navigators, air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators "shall have their English language proficiency evaluated to the ICAO language proficiency standards within a period of three years from March 5, 2008."
Licenses granted to these personnel after this date would be considered to have the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) language proficiency level 4 (operational). All applicants for these jobs would have to fulfil this requirement and undertake a test to get a license.
Proficiency in English was made mandatory for pilots, air traffic controllers and other concerned staff operating in India after the November 11, 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision, but no standard was set for the purpose.
A major cause of the collision was that the pilot of one of the aircraft could not understand the English directives of the ATC and brought the aircraft down to the same height as that of the other plane, instead of gaining height. This had led to the collision.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has brought out a circular, which says that all aircraft personnel like pilots, flight engineers and flight navigators, air traffic controllers and aeronautical station operators "shall have their English language proficiency evaluated to the ICAO language proficiency standards within a period of three years from March 5, 2008."
Licenses granted to these personnel after this date would be considered to have the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) language proficiency level 4 (operational). All applicants for these jobs would have to fulfil this requirement and undertake a test to get a license.
Airport Employees call off strike
NEW DELHI (AFP) — Maintenance workers at airports in India protesting against the opening of two private facilities called off their strike Thursday after talks with the government, their union said.
About 15,000 members of the Airports Authority Employees Union went on strike Wednesday at 127 airports to protest plans to open private airports in high-tech Hyderabad and in call-centre hub Bangalore.
But union official M.K. Ghosal told reporters in New Delhi that following government assurances they would consider employees' interests, "we are withdrawing our non-cooperation agitation."
Aviation minister Praful Patel was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying that he had "assured them that interests of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its employees will not be affected (by the opening of the two new airports)."
"In fact, we will try to make AAI more profitable," he said.
The union's decision came after the government sought a delay in the opening of the Bangalore airport, which was due to start functioning on March 30, saying air traffic control services would not be available before May 10.
"We have decided to launch the new airport May 11 in response to a communication from the Union Civil Aviation ministry," Bangalore International Airport Private Limited, which is building the airport, said in a statement.
Delays in the construction of air traffic control infrastructure and other facilities such as electricity supply and air-conditioning were other reasons for postponing the opening, the government said.
The work stoppage left garbage piling up and toilets overflowing. Baggage trolleys were also scarce and water taps began to run dry in some airports, though air traffic appeared unaffected.
The strike followed the breakdown of talks between workers and authorities over the move to close existing airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad to commercial air traffic once the privately run facilities open.
The government says privatisation is needed to modernise India's airports, with the AAI short of funds.
India needs to spend 9.6 billion dollars over five years to improve the country's airports, according to the government agency, which expects 100 million people to fly this year in India compared with 43 million in 2003-2004.
About 15,000 members of the Airports Authority Employees Union went on strike Wednesday at 127 airports to protest plans to open private airports in high-tech Hyderabad and in call-centre hub Bangalore.
But union official M.K. Ghosal told reporters in New Delhi that following government assurances they would consider employees' interests, "we are withdrawing our non-cooperation agitation."
Aviation minister Praful Patel was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying that he had "assured them that interests of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and its employees will not be affected (by the opening of the two new airports)."
"In fact, we will try to make AAI more profitable," he said.
The union's decision came after the government sought a delay in the opening of the Bangalore airport, which was due to start functioning on March 30, saying air traffic control services would not be available before May 10.
"We have decided to launch the new airport May 11 in response to a communication from the Union Civil Aviation ministry," Bangalore International Airport Private Limited, which is building the airport, said in a statement.
Delays in the construction of air traffic control infrastructure and other facilities such as electricity supply and air-conditioning were other reasons for postponing the opening, the government said.
The work stoppage left garbage piling up and toilets overflowing. Baggage trolleys were also scarce and water taps began to run dry in some airports, though air traffic appeared unaffected.
The strike followed the breakdown of talks between workers and authorities over the move to close existing airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad to commercial air traffic once the privately run facilities open.
The government says privatisation is needed to modernise India's airports, with the AAI short of funds.
India needs to spend 9.6 billion dollars over five years to improve the country's airports, according to the government agency, which expects 100 million people to fly this year in India compared with 43 million in 2003-2004.
Bangalore Airport launch date extended to May 11
The uncertainty over the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) launch date is finally over. Following the Union Government’s green signal to open the airport after May 10, the BIAL on Thursday announced that the greenfield airport would be formally launched on May 11.
In a statement, the BIAL said: “We have received communication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking a consideration of a suitable opening date after May 10, 2008 due to delays on Air Traffic Control (ATC) services. The BIAL has decided the date of airport opening as May 11, 2008.”
taken from http://www.deccanherald.com
However, the BIAL expressed disappointment with delay “as our employees and partners have been working tirelessly to launch the Bengaluru International Airport on March 30. This delay is beyond the control of the BIAL.”
To mark the successful readiness of airport infrastructure, the BIAL will hold an event to showcase the new airport on March 28.
The BIAL had indicated to the ministry that the first commercial flight was likely to take off at 12:01 am on May 11.
The Civil Aviation Ministry, in a letter to BIAL CEO Albert Brunner, cited the lack of readiness of ATC services as the main reason for delay.
No legal action
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel dismissed queries that the Centre’s directive may invite legal action from the BIAL. “The delay is because of operational reasons,” he said.
The letter, written by an officer of the rank of director of the ministry — a copy of which was obtained exclusively by Deccan Herald — blames the BIAL for the delay in handing over several facilities to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take up ATC works. All other agencies (barring AAI) have confirmed readiness for operation, the letter noted.
“The AAI has informed (the ministry) that… it was the responsibility of the BIAL to design and construct by no later than 180 days prior to the initial commissioning date (ICD-March 30) the ATC facility including control tower, technical block and office accommodation for AAI personnel. Air conditioning at ATC was to be provided 90 days prior to ICD. The BIAL should have handed over the facility by September 30, 2007 and provided AC by December 31. However, the crucial building — technical block — was handed over to the AAI only on February 3, 2008, radar building on December 12, 2007 and AC works completed on March 1.”
The letter said as regards the status of installation of ATC equipment, physical installation of navigational aids, radar etc., have been completed. After the ATC equipment are commi-ssioned, the AAI would require eight weeks for familiarisation and training of air traffic controllers.
In a statement, the BIAL said: “We have received communication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking a consideration of a suitable opening date after May 10, 2008 due to delays on Air Traffic Control (ATC) services. The BIAL has decided the date of airport opening as May 11, 2008.”
taken from http://www.deccanherald.com
However, the BIAL expressed disappointment with delay “as our employees and partners have been working tirelessly to launch the Bengaluru International Airport on March 30. This delay is beyond the control of the BIAL.”
To mark the successful readiness of airport infrastructure, the BIAL will hold an event to showcase the new airport on March 28.
The BIAL had indicated to the ministry that the first commercial flight was likely to take off at 12:01 am on May 11.
The Civil Aviation Ministry, in a letter to BIAL CEO Albert Brunner, cited the lack of readiness of ATC services as the main reason for delay.
No legal action
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel dismissed queries that the Centre’s directive may invite legal action from the BIAL. “The delay is because of operational reasons,” he said.
The letter, written by an officer of the rank of director of the ministry — a copy of which was obtained exclusively by Deccan Herald — blames the BIAL for the delay in handing over several facilities to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take up ATC works. All other agencies (barring AAI) have confirmed readiness for operation, the letter noted.
“The AAI has informed (the ministry) that… it was the responsibility of the BIAL to design and construct by no later than 180 days prior to the initial commissioning date (ICD-March 30) the ATC facility including control tower, technical block and office accommodation for AAI personnel. Air conditioning at ATC was to be provided 90 days prior to ICD. The BIAL should have handed over the facility by September 30, 2007 and provided AC by December 31. However, the crucial building — technical block — was handed over to the AAI only on February 3, 2008, radar building on December 12, 2007 and AC works completed on March 1.”
The letter said as regards the status of installation of ATC equipment, physical installation of navigational aids, radar etc., have been completed. After the ATC equipment are commi-ssioned, the AAI would require eight weeks for familiarisation and training of air traffic controllers.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Air traffic unaffected by strike
NEW DELHI — Air traffic across India remained largely unaffected yesterday despite a nationwide protest by about 20,000 airport employees opposed to the closure of the existing airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad.
But some flights were hit due to the "non-cooperation movement" — the protesters are not calling it a strike — in the national capital. There were warnings of disruptions elsewhere too.
About 500 Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel trained in airfield safety, fire fighting and aircraft marshalling were deployed at 21 major civilian airports to ensure smooth take offs and landings, officials told IANS.
A few flights from the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed but operations were not badly affected by the indefinite protest by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees that got underway at midnight on Tuesday after talks with the government broke down.
But officials here admitted that if the 1,700 employees stayed away for long, it would affect baggage handling, sanitation and other ground activities.
Ignoring the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) the government has invoked, the employees are not calling their protest a strike to escape legal action against them.
In Chennai, airport director Dinesh Kumar said both domestic and international terminals functioned normally.
In Kolkata, the airport was near normal and at least 35 flights had flown till forenoon. ATC officials said flight movements were largely normal.
The toilets at the airports too suffered after the cleaning staff stayed away from work.
Airport employees across India late yesterday decided to continue with their strike after the government, rejecting their demand, made clear that the existing Bangalore and Hyderabad airports will terminate commercial operations once the new airports start functioning.
The striking employees also rebuffed Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's assurance that their interests would be fully protected.
"We want the government to continue commercial activities from these airports. This was our demand and we will continue with our agitation till it is considered," M.K Ghoshal, the general secretary of the Airports Authority Employees Union, said.
Our correspondents add: In Mumbai, operations at the international and domestic terminals were largely unaffected yesterday, despite the fact that nearly 2,000 employees stayed away from work. About 15,000 airport employees across India went on a strike from yesterday.
The Airport Authority Employees Joint Forum (AAEJF), an apex body of unions backed by Left parties, organised the strike, protesting against the privatisation of airports in the country. Both Mumbai and Delhi, the busiest airports in India, have been handed over to private firms.
According to a spokesman of the Mumbai International Airport Ltd, operations here were unaffected, despite about 2,000 employees staying away from work. Air traffic control (ATC) officials did not participate in the strike.
But the government had made provisions by deploying Indian Air Force personnel, in case ATC employees also boycotted work.
Airlines had advised passengers to report early, but flights were not disrupted.
In Kerala, the airport operations were not affected in three airports in the state.
Trivandrum Airport Director N. Nagraj said that all incoming and outgoing flights were operated as per schedule till afternoon. He said that the airport had taken steps to manage the essential services with the existing staff.
The strike did not make any impact on the functioning of the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbaserry since it is not managed by AAI.
Reports from Cochin said that only five employees had joined the strike there. Senior officials said that the schedule of flights in Cochin might be affected if there is disruption of services at other airports.
International flights operated by various airlines like Kuwait Airways, Indian, Gulf Air, Air India Express and Oman Airways arrived on time without any obstruction, the airport officials said.
Flight services at Karipur also remained unaffected even though 116 employees joined the strike.
In Hyderabad, about 300 employees of the existing airport at Begumpet in the city joined the strike. The strike, however, had no impact on the air traffic. All international and domestic flights were operating as per the schedule. The airport authorities said there was no cancellation or delay due to the strike.
The passengers, however, faced some inconvenience due to the absence of aerobridge operators and baggage handlers.
In Bangalore, the strike failed to make any impact on flight operations at HAL airport in the city yesterday. Flights took off and landed as per schedule at the existing airport in Bangalore as the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) mans the Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations while the ground support services are handled by various airlines.
But some flights were hit due to the "non-cooperation movement" — the protesters are not calling it a strike — in the national capital. There were warnings of disruptions elsewhere too.
About 500 Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel trained in airfield safety, fire fighting and aircraft marshalling were deployed at 21 major civilian airports to ensure smooth take offs and landings, officials told IANS.
A few flights from the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport were delayed but operations were not badly affected by the indefinite protest by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees that got underway at midnight on Tuesday after talks with the government broke down.
But officials here admitted that if the 1,700 employees stayed away for long, it would affect baggage handling, sanitation and other ground activities.
Ignoring the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) the government has invoked, the employees are not calling their protest a strike to escape legal action against them.
In Chennai, airport director Dinesh Kumar said both domestic and international terminals functioned normally.
In Kolkata, the airport was near normal and at least 35 flights had flown till forenoon. ATC officials said flight movements were largely normal.
The toilets at the airports too suffered after the cleaning staff stayed away from work.
Airport employees across India late yesterday decided to continue with their strike after the government, rejecting their demand, made clear that the existing Bangalore and Hyderabad airports will terminate commercial operations once the new airports start functioning.
The striking employees also rebuffed Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's assurance that their interests would be fully protected.
"We want the government to continue commercial activities from these airports. This was our demand and we will continue with our agitation till it is considered," M.K Ghoshal, the general secretary of the Airports Authority Employees Union, said.
Our correspondents add: In Mumbai, operations at the international and domestic terminals were largely unaffected yesterday, despite the fact that nearly 2,000 employees stayed away from work. About 15,000 airport employees across India went on a strike from yesterday.
The Airport Authority Employees Joint Forum (AAEJF), an apex body of unions backed by Left parties, organised the strike, protesting against the privatisation of airports in the country. Both Mumbai and Delhi, the busiest airports in India, have been handed over to private firms.
According to a spokesman of the Mumbai International Airport Ltd, operations here were unaffected, despite about 2,000 employees staying away from work. Air traffic control (ATC) officials did not participate in the strike.
But the government had made provisions by deploying Indian Air Force personnel, in case ATC employees also boycotted work.
Airlines had advised passengers to report early, but flights were not disrupted.
In Kerala, the airport operations were not affected in three airports in the state.
Trivandrum Airport Director N. Nagraj said that all incoming and outgoing flights were operated as per schedule till afternoon. He said that the airport had taken steps to manage the essential services with the existing staff.
The strike did not make any impact on the functioning of the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbaserry since it is not managed by AAI.
Reports from Cochin said that only five employees had joined the strike there. Senior officials said that the schedule of flights in Cochin might be affected if there is disruption of services at other airports.
International flights operated by various airlines like Kuwait Airways, Indian, Gulf Air, Air India Express and Oman Airways arrived on time without any obstruction, the airport officials said.
Flight services at Karipur also remained unaffected even though 116 employees joined the strike.
In Hyderabad, about 300 employees of the existing airport at Begumpet in the city joined the strike. The strike, however, had no impact on the air traffic. All international and domestic flights were operating as per the schedule. The airport authorities said there was no cancellation or delay due to the strike.
The passengers, however, faced some inconvenience due to the absence of aerobridge operators and baggage handlers.
In Bangalore, the strike failed to make any impact on flight operations at HAL airport in the city yesterday. Flights took off and landed as per schedule at the existing airport in Bangalore as the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) mans the Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations while the ground support services are handled by various airlines.
Plane on test ride hits hijack button
A hijack scare kept the air traffic controllers in Mumbai on tenterhooks for three days in a row. Airport sources told DNA that the first hijack alarm coded message was received at the control tower on Friday afternoon.
The aircraft, belonging to King Air, was once owned by Maharashtra government, they added.
“More than a dozen aircraft were flying in Mumbai airspace when the control room received the hijack code message,” said a senior AAI official on condition of anonymity.
“Within seconds all the agencies were informed about it as per protocol, and we all started looking for the aircraft.” The sequence of every aircraft approaching Mumbai was changed.
“All of us were really scared because we thought that an aircraft had been hijacked and our first job was to locate it,” said an air traffic controller, who too refused to divulge his name. But before the controllers could tune in their equipment, the message stopped abruptly, triggering panic that the worst had happened. “Throughout the night we kept checking information, trying to ensure whether any aircraft had been hijacked. There was none and we heaved sigh of relief,” added the controller.
But there was more to the drama. On Saturday afternoon, the control tower again received the hijack code message from an aircraft. “This time we acted even faster and traced the aircraft somewhere near Juhu airport,” said another senior airport official. The control room in Juhu airport was alerted but officials there could do nothing as they had no radar to track down aircraft.
On Sunday afternoon, Mumbai control again received the hijack message, again from a plane located somewhere near Juhu airport. This time, the authorities were even more alert and found out that a King Air plane was being checked by a foreign pilot and an aircraft engineer. “They were asked to switch off all gadgets, and the hijack message disappeared,” said the official.
The foreign pilot and aircraft engineer told airport authorities that while testing the gadgets, they might have erred and press the transponder, which flashes hijack message code.
The aircraft, belonging to King Air, was once owned by Maharashtra government, they added.
“More than a dozen aircraft were flying in Mumbai airspace when the control room received the hijack code message,” said a senior AAI official on condition of anonymity.
“Within seconds all the agencies were informed about it as per protocol, and we all started looking for the aircraft.” The sequence of every aircraft approaching Mumbai was changed.
“All of us were really scared because we thought that an aircraft had been hijacked and our first job was to locate it,” said an air traffic controller, who too refused to divulge his name. But before the controllers could tune in their equipment, the message stopped abruptly, triggering panic that the worst had happened. “Throughout the night we kept checking information, trying to ensure whether any aircraft had been hijacked. There was none and we heaved sigh of relief,” added the controller.
But there was more to the drama. On Saturday afternoon, the control tower again received the hijack code message from an aircraft. “This time we acted even faster and traced the aircraft somewhere near Juhu airport,” said another senior airport official. The control room in Juhu airport was alerted but officials there could do nothing as they had no radar to track down aircraft.
On Sunday afternoon, Mumbai control again received the hijack message, again from a plane located somewhere near Juhu airport. This time, the authorities were even more alert and found out that a King Air plane was being checked by a foreign pilot and an aircraft engineer. “They were asked to switch off all gadgets, and the hijack message disappeared,” said the official.
The foreign pilot and aircraft engineer told airport authorities that while testing the gadgets, they might have erred and press the transponder, which flashes hijack message code.
Doubts over Bangalore airport launch date
Bangalore’s new airport may not keep its date of opening on March 30 thanks to an air-pocket it has hit over meeting a crucial air traffic control (ATC) norm.
Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation who visited the site on Friday said the launch date would be decided in a day or two after meetings are held in the Capital.
“Right now, March 30 is not still the absolute date,” Mr Ashok Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, told Business Line in Bangalore. “We have still not taken a final view on that and need to have a clear picture. We may take a decision in two-three days after further discussions in Delhi.”
Mr Chawla, along with the Director-General of Civil Aviation, the AAI chief and other officials were in the city for two days to study the onsite and connectivity issues to Devanahalli, 35 km away.
ATC issue
In the worst-case scenario, the opening of the new airport could face a delay of up to one month, one source said.
Mr Chawla admitted that the ATC issue was the main factor in reviewing the launch date. If there was a need to postpone the airport’s launch, the Government would try and sort out the matter as early as possible, so that the plans of the airport developers is not affected, while also ensuring that all regulations for opening a new airport are met, the Secretary said.
The new airport being developed by the Siemens-Unique Zurich Airport-L&T consortium is yet to receive the operator’s licence. For that, the Director-General of Civil Aviation has given the developer, Bangalore International Airport Ltd, a list of 59 items for compliance and will take a call on March 20, Mr Chawla said. A dozen of them still need to be met with.
Problems
At the new airport, the ATC, along with CNS (communication and navigation services) will be handled by the Airports Authority of India, at the moment this is being done by HAL staff.
Sources familiar with the progress of the new airport said the imported ATC equipment and radar landed only in February, almost three months late. The delayed arrival has given AAI staff little time for onsite familiarisation. They need on-site familiarisation of up to four weeks to test, calibrate and synchronise their equipment. The instruments need to be kept in 42-day (1,000-hour) “hot stand-by” mode before the airport can be operationalised.
General view is that both these cannot be achieved by March 30. Only on Friday, BIAL had demonstrated its readiness by handling the trial landings and take-offs of six aircraft in various modes. Asked about the ATC issue, the BIAL CEO, Mr Albert Brunner, said BIAL was only the operator and ATC did not fall in its ambit.
AAI is in the process of deploying some 300 air traffic controllers from its other centres to Devanahalli.
USER FEE
Mr Chawla said there would be no going back on closing down the nearly 50-year-old HAL airport once the new one begins operations at Devanahalli. The user fee is the other public concern. He said this, too, is inevitable, though the Ministry would try to keep the amount as reasonable as possible for departing passengers, without compromising the business model of BIAL.
Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation who visited the site on Friday said the launch date would be decided in a day or two after meetings are held in the Capital.
“Right now, March 30 is not still the absolute date,” Mr Ashok Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, told Business Line in Bangalore. “We have still not taken a final view on that and need to have a clear picture. We may take a decision in two-three days after further discussions in Delhi.”
Mr Chawla, along with the Director-General of Civil Aviation, the AAI chief and other officials were in the city for two days to study the onsite and connectivity issues to Devanahalli, 35 km away.
ATC issue
In the worst-case scenario, the opening of the new airport could face a delay of up to one month, one source said.
Mr Chawla admitted that the ATC issue was the main factor in reviewing the launch date. If there was a need to postpone the airport’s launch, the Government would try and sort out the matter as early as possible, so that the plans of the airport developers is not affected, while also ensuring that all regulations for opening a new airport are met, the Secretary said.
The new airport being developed by the Siemens-Unique Zurich Airport-L&T consortium is yet to receive the operator’s licence. For that, the Director-General of Civil Aviation has given the developer, Bangalore International Airport Ltd, a list of 59 items for compliance and will take a call on March 20, Mr Chawla said. A dozen of them still need to be met with.
Problems
At the new airport, the ATC, along with CNS (communication and navigation services) will be handled by the Airports Authority of India, at the moment this is being done by HAL staff.
Sources familiar with the progress of the new airport said the imported ATC equipment and radar landed only in February, almost three months late. The delayed arrival has given AAI staff little time for onsite familiarisation. They need on-site familiarisation of up to four weeks to test, calibrate and synchronise their equipment. The instruments need to be kept in 42-day (1,000-hour) “hot stand-by” mode before the airport can be operationalised.
General view is that both these cannot be achieved by March 30. Only on Friday, BIAL had demonstrated its readiness by handling the trial landings and take-offs of six aircraft in various modes. Asked about the ATC issue, the BIAL CEO, Mr Albert Brunner, said BIAL was only the operator and ATC did not fall in its ambit.
AAI is in the process of deploying some 300 air traffic controllers from its other centres to Devanahalli.
USER FEE
Mr Chawla said there would be no going back on closing down the nearly 50-year-old HAL airport once the new one begins operations at Devanahalli. The user fee is the other public concern. He said this, too, is inevitable, though the Ministry would try to keep the amount as reasonable as possible for departing passengers, without compromising the business model of BIAL.
BIAL unlikely on Scheduled time due ATC
In the wake of air safety concerns raised by an incomplete Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility, top Civil Aviation Ministry officials will meet early next week to take a final decision on whether to operationalise the airport on March 30 as scheduled or put it off.
Highly placed ministry sources told Deccan Herald that the issue of the commercial launch was “still open”.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) personnel working on the ATC facility are learnt to have categorically told a visiting Civil Aviation committee that they had to get at least a month’s training on the various equipment before the ATC could be commissioned.
Global practice
According to the standard norm followed worldwide, after a calibration flight, the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) equipment attached to the ATC are to be kept in hot standby mode for 1,000 hours. This is to help the system get stabilised and the personnel get familiarised with the working.
The sources said in the next few days, officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), AAI and the Ministry would coordinate with all the departments concerned, to see whether the airport could be readied for launch by March 30.
Safety issues
The officials, it is learnt, were not keen to postpone the launch. However, if they were not convinced about the safety issues, the date might be deferred.
During their previous visit to the airport site on February 29, the Civil Aviation Ministry officials had asked the BIAL to ensure that the critical ATC facility, controlled by AAI, was ready by March 20.
Stressing their need to get trained in the ATC equipment, the AAI staff at the new airport had reportedly sought a month’s time for the same. During this period they wanted to use the facility to monitor the existing traffic at the HAL airport, and gain real-time experience, so vital for such a large international airport.
Top airport sources told this newspaper that ATC was the most critical component and problems, if any, over it could not be sorted out in a hurry. “It is going to be tough task if they want the ATC problem solved and get the airport launched on March 30,” quipped a top official.
AAI’s responsibility
BIAL CEO, Albert Brunner on Friday maintained that the ATC was part of the responsibility of the Airports Authority of India.
“AAI is responsible for air traffic management. I don’t install it (the various ATC equipment), I don’t test it, I don’t have the experience,” he said when asked whether the BIAL launch was feasible, before completion of the 1,000 hour hot-standby mode period of the ATC equipment.
Highly placed ministry sources told Deccan Herald that the issue of the commercial launch was “still open”.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) personnel working on the ATC facility are learnt to have categorically told a visiting Civil Aviation committee that they had to get at least a month’s training on the various equipment before the ATC could be commissioned.
Global practice
According to the standard norm followed worldwide, after a calibration flight, the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) equipment attached to the ATC are to be kept in hot standby mode for 1,000 hours. This is to help the system get stabilised and the personnel get familiarised with the working.
The sources said in the next few days, officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), AAI and the Ministry would coordinate with all the departments concerned, to see whether the airport could be readied for launch by March 30.
Safety issues
The officials, it is learnt, were not keen to postpone the launch. However, if they were not convinced about the safety issues, the date might be deferred.
During their previous visit to the airport site on February 29, the Civil Aviation Ministry officials had asked the BIAL to ensure that the critical ATC facility, controlled by AAI, was ready by March 20.
Stressing their need to get trained in the ATC equipment, the AAI staff at the new airport had reportedly sought a month’s time for the same. During this period they wanted to use the facility to monitor the existing traffic at the HAL airport, and gain real-time experience, so vital for such a large international airport.
Top airport sources told this newspaper that ATC was the most critical component and problems, if any, over it could not be sorted out in a hurry. “It is going to be tough task if they want the ATC problem solved and get the airport launched on March 30,” quipped a top official.
AAI’s responsibility
BIAL CEO, Albert Brunner on Friday maintained that the ATC was part of the responsibility of the Airports Authority of India.
“AAI is responsible for air traffic management. I don’t install it (the various ATC equipment), I don’t test it, I don’t have the experience,” he said when asked whether the BIAL launch was feasible, before completion of the 1,000 hour hot-standby mode period of the ATC equipment.
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