Indian set to handle fog in upcoming winter

Chennai, Nov 17 (UNI) National carrier 'Indian' is all set to effectively handle its annual tryst with fog this winter.

Foggy conditions over northern India and the resultant low visibility often lead to flight disruptions not only in the north, but also across the airline's network.

An Indian release here said airline Chairman and Managing Director Vishwapati Trivedi reviewed the preparedness of different departments to tackle fog at a high-level meeting with heads of operational departments at Delhi today.

The airline's endeavour was to ensure minimum inconvenience to passengers through timely and adequate information about disruption to flights and their subsequent rescheduling.

Indian was the only airline to have a large number of trained pilots to operate in low visibility conditions. It had nearly 400 pilots trained to operate in CAT II/III B conditions, which would help to minimise the delays and avoid cancellations, the release adding that they were having 54 aircrafts, 48 A-320s and 6 A-319s.

The airline had upgraded toll free services to 24/7 manner, with advanced software and hardware and additional manpower to ensure that the dissemination of flight information was on time and fast.

One could call Indian's toll free number 1800 180 1407 from a BSNL /MTNL phone, or dial 1407 prefixed by STD code of one of the six major metros, the release added.

The crew roster system had also been upgraded with a view to optimising utilization of crew, and for the first time, the airline had engaged the services of a consulting meteorologist to help in speedy forecast of weather conditions. Special control rooms were also set up at airports in all major bases to plan and implement the fog contingency plans, the release added.

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