All flights don’t follow new system

It has been more than six months since performance based navigation system (PBNS) was introduced at Mumbai airport. However, not all flights are manned by this new system.

According to the Mumbai air traffic control (ATC), out of 676 flights daily, 142 are still directed by the old traffic system. These flights belong to Jetlite and Air India (AI).

“While we use PBNS for handling other flights, we have to resort to old procedures in case of Jetlite’s B373 fleet and AI’s fleet of A319, A310 and B737-800,” said an ATC official.

The ATC does not see its job becoming any easier with the summer schedule setting in. Most of the airlines increase their flights during vacations. “Airlines will be increasing their flights by at least 7% and the non-PBNS compliant aircrafts are more than 20%. Then we have an additional 10% in non-scheduled flights (charters and helicopters) during elections,” said the official. On August 28, 2008, PBNS was introduced which took India in the direction of Future Air Navigation System (FANS). This system is designed to separate routes for incoming and outgoing aircrafts.

The spokespersons for Air India and Jetlite said that they had filed the paperwork to endorse PBNS with the director general of civil aviation (DGCA).

“We are awaiting the approval,” said the spokesperson for Jetlite.
However, spokesperson for civil aviation ministry said that while Jetlite’s application has not reached them yet.