The ATC guild has defended its workers derostered after a near-miss incident at Mumbai airport the place an IndiGo flight landed and an Air India flight took off on the identical runway.
“Air Site visitors Controllers (ATCs) are allowed to clear as much as two arrivals and two departures inside three minutes, topic to acceptable limits of security,” the guild stated in a put up on X.
On Saturday, an IndiGo flight was given clearance to land whereas an Air India flight was within the technique of taking off for Thiruvananthapuram from the identical runway. The Air India flight was accelerating down the runway because the IndiGo flight descended. Because the IndiGo aircraft approached, the Air India flight managed to take off simply in time, avoiding a mishap.
The separation minima between two plane could be diminished if the visibility is nice, the guild wrote. “On this explicit case that occurred on Saturday on the Mumbai airport, the visibility was good and there was no air prox scenario with respect to the touchdown IndiGo flight and the taking off of Air India flight. This can be a wow second for outlookers (sic) however those that carry out this safety-critical job each day know it’s a part of their obligation for which they’re rigorously skilled.”
The guild stated ATC has the discretion to permit arrival and departure inside a couple of minutes on the identical runway, particularly in high-density airports comparable to Mumbai, including that had there been a security danger for touchdown, the pilot himself would have initiated a ‘Go-Round’.
The guild stated the runway within the information sees roughly 46 arrivals and departures each hour. “ATCs at Mumbai are accountable for clearing as much as two arrivals and two departures inside a three-minute window, offered that security limits are met. When visibility is nice, the separation between two plane could be diminished, including to the complexity of the duty,” it additional wrote.
IndiGo stated in a press release that the pilot of the Indore-Mumbai flight adopted the ATC’s directions. “On June 8, 2024, IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given touchdown clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. The pilot in command continued the method and touchdown and adopted ATC directions. At IndiGo, passenger security is paramount to us, and we have now reported the incident as per process,” it stated. Air India, too, stated ATC cleared its aircraft for take-off. “AI657 from Mumbai to Trivandrum was on take-off roll on June 8. The Air India plane was cleared by Air Site visitors Management to enter the runway and subsequently cleared for take-off. The Air India plane continued with the take-off motion in accordance with laid down procedures. An investigation has been initiated by the authorities to search out out extra on the clearance given to the airways.”
Aviation security regulator Directorate Common of Civil Aviation is probing Saturday’s incident.
