new delhi, Jul 20
Pilots’ grouping ALPA India on Monday urged authorities to suspend Indian carriers’ flights to the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, till a comprehensive threat assessment is carried out amid the challenging security environment in the region. In March this year also, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) had asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to adopt a precautionary approach in view of the evolving military situation and the increasing risks to civil aviation in West Asia.
After a pause, the conflict between the US and Iran restarted in recent days.
In a letter to the civil aviation ministry and DGCA, ALPA India said the security situation in the region has deteriorated further.
According to the grouping, civil aircraft operating into or over conflict-affected regions remain vulnerable not only to direct military activity, but also to misidentification, missile engagements, electronic warfare, GPS interference, rapidly changing airspace restrictions, and limitations in timely intelligence available to flight crews.
ALPA India has urged the ministry and DGCA to “immediately suspend all commercial flight operations by Indian operators to the affected Gulf destinations, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, until a comprehensive and independent threat assessment has been undertaken by competent national security agencies, intelligence authorities, and aviation safety experts”. Further, the grouping has called for appropriate risk mitigation measures, robust operational risk assessments by airlines, as well as ensure that adequate insurance coverage and contingency arrangements remain valid under the prevailing threat environment. Pilots should be fully informed of the prevailing risks and are not subjected to commercial pressure to operate into potentially unsafe airspace, it said.
ALPA India also said that it was ready to assist the ministry and DGCA in any technical consultations relating to conflict-zone risk assessments and flight safety.
