The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a circular on February 20 asking all operators to frame aerodrome-wise SOPs, offer guidance to flight operations staff on ‘no destination alternate’ processes, and get the same approved by the civil aviation authority.
The move comes in a bid to keep abreast of the dynamism of the global economy and air transportation industry. With technological advancements, airline operators strive for more efficient fuel utilisation. This move will provide equal opportunity to all operators, including those who invest in new technology and those who utilise the existing one, to receive a decent return on investment.
The circular offered the necessary guidance to support policy implementation in compliance with CAR Section 8 Series O Part II. The process applies only to airports with more than one independent runway. It will also require all operators to sign an MoU with every aerodrome where they plan to take a ‘no destination alternate’ flight.
