Akasa Air has requested an exemption from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the requirement to deploy CAT-III trained pilots for flights to and from two major fog-prone airports in India—Kolkata and Bengaluru. The airline is seeking this exemption for specific periods, citing a shortage of pilots trained on the CAT-III instrument landing systems (ILS), which are essential for operations in low-visibility conditions, such as those caused by dense fog.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Akasa Air has expressed concerns that without this exemption, it could face a “cascading” impact on its entire flight schedule. The shortage of trained pilots could severely disrupt its operations, especially during peak fog seasons when visibility at these airports is at its lowest. As fog is a recurring issue at Kolkata and Bengaluru airports, this exemption is critical for the airline to maintain uninterrupted flight services.
The CAT-III ILS system, which is used for landings in low-visibility conditions, has three subcategories—CAT-III A, CAT-III B, and CAT-III C. These categories allow pilots to land at airports with progressively lower visibility. For example, CAT-III A permits landings with a minimum runway visibility of 175 meters, CAT-III B reduces this further to 50 meters, and CAT-III C allows for landings in zero visibility conditions. The ability to deploy pilots with this specialized training is crucial for ensuring safe landings during fog and other adverse weather conditions.
The shortage of pilots qualified for CAT-III operations is not unique to Akasa Air but is a broader challenge facing the aviation industry. As demand for pilots continues to grow, airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and train enough pilots for specialized operations like CAT-III landings, particularly during the busy winter months when fog is more prevalent.
In light of these challenges, Akasa Air’s request for an exemption from the DGCA comes as a proactive measure to avoid potential operational disruptions. The airline is hopeful that the regulator will consider the broader implications of this shortage and grant the requested exemption, allowing it to continue its services without major disruptions during periods of low visibility at Kolkata and Bengaluru airports.
This situation underscores the importance of having a sufficient number of highly trained pilots to meet the demands of operating in challenging weather conditions, particularly at airports prone to fog. As the aviation industry continues to recover and expand, addressing the shortage of specialized pilots will be crucial to ensuring the safety and efficiency of flight operations across India.
