Experienced Pilot Bhagat Singh said it is always more challenging to drive up to the parking bay after landing the airplane in the runway during the winter season due to heavy fog and low visibility.
Coimbatore: According to Senior Pilot Bhagat Singh, pilots will have to face many difficulties in operating flight during winter months not only in India but globally.
Even though various state-of-the-art technology facilities are being implemented in the aviation sector, the day to day operation of flights has many challenges.
In India, cities such as Delhi and Lucknow are likely to experience the highest fog and misty conditions, which affects visibility during the months of December and January.
Pilots should be extremely cautious every time the planes take off and land in poor weather conditions.
“However, the biggest challenge lies in steering the plane safely from the runway to the parking bay after landing, which is the most difficult part during winter months” he said.
Typically, the pilots are assisted by specially trained personnel during the take-off and landing of the aircraft through various means including gestures.
“During the winter season, especially in the northern states of India, the employees engaged in such work will have to face a lot of difficulties. Even though they are standing near the aircraft, they will not be able to carry out the work quickly due to dense fog” he said.
The number of flights operated during peak winter months also comes down “If you operate 10 flights per hour on normal days you can operate only two flights in the same one hour in winter with heavy fog” the pilot said.
“But caution is the watch word and every step will be taken with utmost caution keeping in view the safety of the passengers” Pilot Bhagat Singh said.