DGCA derosters six pilots of three airlines, one ATC

Six pilots of Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir and Air India have been derostered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after they violated guidelines while landing on a short runway at Mumbai airport under rainy conditions.

The DGCA also issued notices to the three airlines on the matter asking them to explain why the strict guidelines were not followed by their aircraft while operating on a wet and short runway which was in operation at the Mumbai airport yesterday afternoon, official sources said here.

DGCA has de-rostered in all six pilots of three operators-Kingfisher, Go Air and NACIL, which had yesterday operated flights during wet runway conditions, they said. However, an airlines' spokesperson denied such claim.

"We categorically deny this as false and mischievous. The cockpit crew and the cabin crew all remained present till all guests had safely exited from the aircraft and performed their duties as required of them in the given situation," Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson said.

"The commander of our flight did not receive any notification advising or alerting our aircraft of any special conditions prevailing on the runway at that time which may have potentially led to the eventful landing of another aircraft," he said.

According to airport officials, the regulatory body has also rostered one Air Traffic Controller (ATC) for failing to notify the commander of Kingfisher Airlines aircraft about the runway conditions.

"DGCA has derostered one ATC for failing to notify the Kingfisher Airline's commander about the excessive water accumulation and rubber deposits on the runway," a Mumbai Airport official said.

An ATR 72-212A turbo-prop aircraft of Kingfisher airlines operating a scheduled flight IT-4124 on the Bhavnagar-Mumbai sector yesterday had skidded off the runway, resulting in the plane getting damaged. Six passengers and one crew member received minor injuries and they were released after first-aid.

Sources alleged that the Kingfisher Airlines' pilot jumped out of the aircraft through emergency chute before the passengers were to be rescued after it skidded off the runway.

Airport officials said, just four minutes prior to Kingfisher Airlines plane skidding, an Air India aircraft from Goa bounced on the runway, breaking two runway lights. The Mumbai airport is undertaking the full re-construction of Runway 14/32, including the overlay of the cross-runway inter-section, between October 1 till January 31.

For this purpose, Runway 27 is available for operations till March next year for six hours every Tuesday and only short runway operations are permitted. The sources said these short runway operations were being permitted after undertaking full safety assessment and operational requirements in consultation with all airlines, the Airports Authority of India, MIAL and other stakeholders.

DGCA has informed them that during the closure period on Tuesdays, a total of 84 movements are involved. These operations at MIAL on short runway 27A are continuously being reviewed in DGCA before and after the operations.

Keeping in view the inputs received, DGCA issued directions to all airlines for strict compliance when using Runway 27A from November 10 onwards. The directions include that the commander of an aircraft should be a Training Captain (Instructor) and the second one should have minimum 300 hours of flying experience on the particular aircraft type.

No assisted take-off and landing would be permitted and no operation would take place when the runway surface is wet, said the DGCA.