NEW DELHI: With a severe cyclonic storm just miles away from Maharashtra and Gujarat, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a list of precautions that airlines must oversee to fly safely in this adverse weather.
The “monsoon circular” has also been issued as airlines have restarted domestic flights only from last Monday after a two-month suspension of schedule operations.
With Mumbai expected to get 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours and strong winds with speed of up to 110 kmph likely between 11 am to 5 pm, the megacity airport has asked small plane operators to park their aircraft in hangars.
Air India has also been asked to park ATR 72 in hangar. “Special precautions have been taken for general aviation aircraft since they are small and light and are vulnerable to strong winds. Some GA aircraft have flown out of Mumbai, some have been asked to park inside the hangars and minimum aircraft are parked on the apron,” said an official.
The DGCA circular issued to operators and pilots to reiterate some existing guidelines on adverse weather operations says: “The low pressure area developing over the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the north Maharashtra and South Gujarat coasts in the evening/night of June 3…. In view of the COVID-19 situation, aviation related activities have been very limited… Operators and individuals have a challenge at hand in restarting flying after a prolonged period of non-flying and the associated weather at this time of the year across India.”
