Two state owned carriers Indian and Air India has spent a big amount of Rs 20 crore in order to train their pilots for flying away airplanes even in the dense foggy conditions, as a result, this year carries operated maximum number of flights during the lowest visibility on airports.
The crew passed through an intensive training program, which aimed at teaching them that, how to take-offs and land with the help Category-III Instrument Landing System. The mess comes only for two and half months in between the mid of November to January last.
However, it is a major cause of concern that still private airlines seem reluctant to adopt this technology, and are leaving passengers in trouble especially in winter. Among the reasons for the delay is the high cost of training pilots in these low-visibility systems. Indian civil aviation ministry has already asked private carriers to train their pilots but literally airlines indifferences making mockery of government’s appeal.
It is very piteous that on the one hand, private players are giving tough competition to state owned carriers by reducing their airfares and on the other hand, they bear unaccountability about the convenience of travelers. What I think is that instead of advising airlines the government should make it mandatory for all airlines to get equipped with CAT-III equipment making them capable of landing in zero-visibility condition.
