Cleared To Approach: The Aviation Blog

  What exactly is happening? Indigo has been facing a severe operational crisis, mainly due to pilot-rostering problems linked to the second phase of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations). For several days, Indigo has been cancelling hundreds of flights per day. Around 350 flights were cancelled on December 4. Over 1000 flights were cancelled on December 5. Cancellations have come down but are still high. Consequences: Passengers have been stranded at major airports with long queues, chaotic counters, and overcrowded terminals, without their baggage being delivered to them. They are often notified very late about cancellations. They are paying unprecedented fares for last-minute flights and train journeys. For example, a one-way SpiceJet economy-class Kolkata-Mumbai flight hit INR 90,000. Root Cause: Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu said that the massive disruption in Indigo flights was due to the airline's miscalculation of crew requirements under the new FDTL norms. Weekl...

  India's Potential Su-57 Deal with Russia: With Russian President Vladmir Putin's visit to New Delhi between 4 and 5 December, experts have said that talks and negotiations about Su-57s and S500s may start, but no major deal is expected to be signed. ~71% of Indian fighter-aircraft are of Russian origin, such as the Su-30MKI and MiG-29. Despite pressure from Washington, India is expected to procure Su-57s as 5th-Generation fighter aircraft, which its air force currently lacks, as the HAL AMCA is in development  (Click Here for the HAL AMCA Article) . Indian defences currently have S400 Defence systems, which are SAMs with a range of ~350km. These proved to be instrumental during the Indo-Pak conflict in May this year. New Delhi is looking to procure upgraded S500 systems, with:  higher engagement altitudes (near the edge of space, up to ~200km)  Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capabilities Complete ballistic missile defence  Radar enhancements Longer range missiles Anti-...

Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL / VILH) in Leh is one of the most challenging airports for pilots to operate in, due to its high-altitude location surrounding Himalayan terrain, limited approach paths, weather, and qualification requirements that leave virtually no margin for error. Overview: The airport is located at an elevation of 3,256m above sea level. It is a dual-use facility, military operated by the Indian Air Force, and civil aviation managed by the Airports Authority of India. The runway orientation is 07/25. Arrivals are generally on Runway 07 while departures are from 25, due to terrain and winds. Difficulty of Landing at IXL: Reduced air density at heights leads to poorer aircraft performance, including longer takeoffs, reduced climb, and less engine thrust. Due to the Himalayas, there are significant terrain constraints.  The airport is surrounded by high mountains and valleys, limiting approach paths and aircraft maneuvering. Mountain weather can change within ...

  India's Need for New Pilots: With ∼1700 planes on order in India, the country will need 30,000 additional pilots, said Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday, 15 November. He explained how for every aircraft, you need 10 pilots per aircraft due to scheduling.  Currently, India has about 8000 pilots for 834 aircraft. MSFS For Flight Training: Boeing is set to use Microsoft Flight Simulator to train new pilots. Note that this will not replace their full-motion simulators but rather supplement them with training for procedures- which don't require accurate physics.

  National Aviation Safety Centre: On Tuesday, a senior government official said that India is to set up a National Aviation Safety Centre based on global best practices to train auditors, accident investigators, and industry professionals. This comes after the fatal AI171 crash in June. The centre aims to improve human capital in the industry.  Air India Pilots Suspended: 2 Air India pilots were suspended earlier this week due to flying with 'license discrepancies', The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the lapses and has requested a detailed report from Air India. US Government Shutdown Affects Aviation: JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, is holding a roundtable with industry leaders due to the government shutdown, according to a White House official. Unions are calling for lawmakers to pass a clean resolution, as Air Traffic Controllers have officially missed their first paycheck.

Terminal 2 at Indira Gandhi Airport Revamped: Terminal 2 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL / VIDP) has been closed since April for renovation. It was inaugurated yesterday (Saturday, 25th of October) by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and operations have resumed today (Sunday, 26th of October. The terminal is said to handle 120 daily domestic flights. Improvements include electrical and mechanical upgrades, more aerobridges, self-baggage drop facilities, etc. Saudia Flight 340 Bird Strike: Saudia Flight SV340 was hit by a massive bird strike on Saturday. The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER, registered HZ-AK31 was on approach to Jeddah when it suffered the strike, leaving marks on the fuselage and a dent on the nose. The aircraft continued its approach and landed safely. This is not an isolated incident, with Akasa Air, Air India Express and Delta Airlines flights all facing similar bird strikes earlier this year. PIA Return to the UK: Pakistan International Airlines was...