The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to reduce the low visibility take-off (LVTO) minima by 25 metres.
Air passengers worried of getting stuck in Delhi or other parts of north India due to fog during the winter months have a reason to rejoice.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to reduce the low visibility take-off (LVTO) minima by 25 metres.
This will especially help airlines like Kingfisher and Air India (AI) whose wings were clipped last year by the DGCA when it suddenly
decided to increase the LVTO to allegedly favour a private carrier whose aircraft could not fly in those conditions.
The winter schedule that brings the onslaught of fog also sends chills down the spines of flyers. Thousands often experience delayed flights or are stuck at airports especially in northern India. But this time, things will change as the DGCA has decided to reduce the LVTO by 25 metres.
“The visibility take-off has been reduced and this will reduce congestion,” said a DGCA official.
Thus, the LVTO for a Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 is now 125 metres from the earlier 150 metres and for Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 it is 150 metres, down from 175 metres.
“The reduced LVTO allows airlines like Air India, Kingfisher, Indigo to take-off under CAT III A & B conditions as these airlines have CAT III compliant aircraft and pilots,” said an airline
official.
Last year, on January 17, the DGCA suddenly increased the LVTO by 25 metres. As a result, flights of airlines like AI, Kingfisher and Indigo were grounded.
It was alleged that this was done to favour the largest private airline which did not have CAT III A & B compliant planes. “It seems the airline has made its fleet compliant,” said the source.
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