NEW DELHI: After Deogarh, the Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has authorised graduation of particular VFR operations to and from Gondia airport in Maharashtra. Indigo has acquired this approval for its ATR 72-600 sort of plane at Gondia, stated the regulator in a press release, whereas describing the identical as “a step ahead in the direction of addressing the difficulty of flight delays, diversions and cancellations resulting from low visibility at small airports.”
That is solely the second occasion when any scheduled airline operator has been granted approval for graduation of particular VFR operations to/from any VFR airport. For the primary time, such approval was granted to IndiGo for graduation of particular VFR operations to/from Deoghar airport in Jharkhand on November 15, 2023.
Flight operations at VFR airports are restricted by visibility constraints and minimal visibility standards of 5,000 metres is required to be fulfilled for any flight to take-off from or land at that airport. Particular VFR operations refers to working in climate situations the place the visibility is lower than the minimal visibility standards for VFR operations of 5,000 metres. The ATR 72-600 sort of plane will now be capable of take-off from and land at Gondia airport in decreased visibility as much as 3,200 meters, thus enhancing availability of Gondia airport for flight operations, says the regulator.
“IndiGo’s normal working process (SOP) for conduct of particular VFR operations at Gondia airport has been authorised after complete analysis of security danger evaluation and mitigation course of. The suggestions mechanism has additionally been included within the regulator’s approval course of and the submission of suggestions by the airline operator for the primary 30 flights working beneath particular VFR procedures has been mandated for evaluation and assessment,” the assertion stated.
“Such approval for scheduled airline operators to function flight in decreased visibility at VFR airports and airports lined beneath UDAN / RCS Scheme wouldn’t solely improve the supply and accessibility of those airports however may deal with the difficulty of flight delays, diversions and cancellations resulting from low visibility considerably. This may also pave the way in which for enhancing connectivity for different such smaller airfields thereby, selling the UDAN / RCS scheme,” it added.
That is solely the second occasion when any scheduled airline operator has been granted approval for graduation of particular VFR operations to/from any VFR airport. For the primary time, such approval was granted to IndiGo for graduation of particular VFR operations to/from Deoghar airport in Jharkhand on November 15, 2023.
Flight operations at VFR airports are restricted by visibility constraints and minimal visibility standards of 5,000 metres is required to be fulfilled for any flight to take-off from or land at that airport. Particular VFR operations refers to working in climate situations the place the visibility is lower than the minimal visibility standards for VFR operations of 5,000 metres. The ATR 72-600 sort of plane will now be capable of take-off from and land at Gondia airport in decreased visibility as much as 3,200 meters, thus enhancing availability of Gondia airport for flight operations, says the regulator.
“IndiGo’s normal working process (SOP) for conduct of particular VFR operations at Gondia airport has been authorised after complete analysis of security danger evaluation and mitigation course of. The suggestions mechanism has additionally been included within the regulator’s approval course of and the submission of suggestions by the airline operator for the primary 30 flights working beneath particular VFR procedures has been mandated for evaluation and assessment,” the assertion stated.
“Such approval for scheduled airline operators to function flight in decreased visibility at VFR airports and airports lined beneath UDAN / RCS Scheme wouldn’t solely improve the supply and accessibility of those airports however may deal with the difficulty of flight delays, diversions and cancellations resulting from low visibility considerably. This may also pave the way in which for enhancing connectivity for different such smaller airfields thereby, selling the UDAN / RCS scheme,” it added.
