Distance, height between planes to be reduced: DGCA

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Civil aviation authorities are in the process of training pilots and air traffic control (ATC) personnel besides introducing advanced technology to gradually reduce the air distance between two aircraft from 50 nautical miles to 15.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Kanu Gohain said new rules and regulations will be put in place to ensure that all aircraft are fitted with the required equipment to ensure reduction in required navigation performance.

He added that the height separation would also be reduced from the present 2,000 feet to 1,000. Safety systems are working satisfactorily, he said.

The GAGAN satellite-based navigation system, developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation and Airports Authority of India, is also in the offing, said Mr Gohain. ''Once this capability is achieved, we will not have to depend on the global positioning satellite or the GLONAS.'' Meanwhile, the DGCA said India may open its skies for four months from November, allowing foreign carriers to increase flight frequencies or operate larger aircraft.

The move is aimed at clearing the rush of travellers during the coming festival season. The DGCA has moved a proposal to the civil aviation ministry for its approval, official sources said here.

If approved, the open sky policy will remain effective from November this year till February 2007.

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