IndiGo gets Category-III authorisation

Norms for airlines operating the highest level of anti-fog system, Category-III, have been relaxed with a view to tackle the problem of fog-related delays, official sources said. Following relaxation of these norms, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted CAT-III authorisation to low-cost carrier IndiGo, which has aircraft equipped to fly and land in low visibility conditions. The carrier has also trained over 40 per cent of its pilots to operate the CAT-III Instrument Landing System (ILS). Earlier, the norms for getting CAT-II approval required the airlines to perform take-offs and landings under these conditions for a year and six more months of such operations to get CAT-III authorisation.

Sources said the norms were recently changed after a meeting of top officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry, including Secretary Ajay Prasad and DGCA Kanu Gohain. Now the time requirement for CAT-II and CAT-III can be waived if the airlines have equipped aircraft and trained pilots, the sources added. They said carriers like IndiGo had qualified pilots and planes available due to increase in the retirement age of commanders to 65 years. Most of the foreign pilots, engaged by various airlines to tide over the shortage of senior pilots, are also CAT-III trained in their respective countries. Meanwhile, Indigo President and CEO Bruce Ashby said the airline had all its Airbus A-320 aircraft fitted with CAT-III equipment and 40 per cent of the pilots trained. "IndiGo is a low-cost airline, but we do not spare expense or effort when it comes to getting our flights out on time", he added.

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