Air India Tackles Fog Disruptions with Roster Planning & CAT 3 Crew

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Amid instances of fog-related operational disruptions, Air India is looking at building a larger pool of pilots who can operate in low visibility conditions, better roster planning and schedule buffers as well as more pre-emptive flight cancellations to deal with such situations.

While mentioning an "unusually bad fog season" in northern India, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Thursday said the airline's operations team is how to better cope with the disruptions.

Last week, aviation watchdog DGCA imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for lapses in rostering of pilots for operating flights in low visibility conditions against the backdrop of flight disruptions at the Delhi airport in the last week of December 2023.

"Moving on to more current matters, as most of you in northern India are well aware we're in the 'thick' (so to speak) of an unusually bad fog season. This, coupled with the unfortunately-timed closure of one of Delhi's two 'low-visibility' runways for repair, has significantly impacted all airlines' operations, with consequential effect on staff and, of course, customers," Wilson said in a message to the staff.

Fog will recur in future seasons and airport/airway congestion will only increase, he said, adding that the airline is looking at ways to better cope with it.

"...our operations team is assessing how to better cope, such as by building a larger pool of CAT 3 crew, better roster planning and schedule buffers and, where necessary, more pre-emptive flight cancellations. In the meantime, I'd like to acknowledge everyone's efforts in helping our customers under often difficult circumstances," Wilson said.

Broadly, CAT 3 or CAT III refers to the capability to operate flights in low visibility conditions.

In recent times, operations at the Delhi airport were significantly impacted by dense fog and low visibility conditions resulting in diversions, cancellations and delays of flights.