No flight delays due to fog at Delhi today

After disrupting holiday travel plans the city woke up to a clear morning on Thursday. No flight delays have been reported due to fog and the runway visibility is 1,300 metres, which is well above the normal range. Meanwhile, in order to do away with the annual ritual of fog delays and flight cancellations, the Aviation regulator DGCA has started a series of meetings with airlines and airport operators. At present planes flying out of Delhi need a take-off minima or visibility level of at least 500 metres. Internationally, however, the take-off minima is about one-third. So, the DGCA is planning to allow take offs under much lower visibility conditions. In case there's an emergency, the planes will be allowed to land in neighbouring airports like Jaipur, Lucknow. Even the Defence Ministry allows it, the Agra and Gwalior airports will be available for emergency landing.

DGCA officials say lowering the take-off minima will also help decongest the Delhi airport. It will allow passengers going to places with better weather to reach their destinations on time. But to ensure that the take offs under foggy conditions are absolutely safe, the DGCA is also coming out with stricter flying norms for both airlines and airport authorities. Only pilots trained to take off in low visibility will be allowed to fly. Airport staff will have to undergo special training for low visibility take offs and the DGCA might set a higher take off minima than what's accepted internationally. The picture is still a bit hazy on how soon the norms will be in place. Airlines have already been asked to get ready with low take off minima procedures. Hopefully, the new take-off rules will be in place before the fog lifts for this year.

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