LAHORE: Lack of the navigation system helping planes to land in fog at Lahore airport has affected at least 500 flights since the foggy weather engulfed the city in mid-December.

PIA passengers suffered the most as half of the affected (delayed, diverted or cancelled) flights were of the national flag carrier and the remaining of private and foreign airlines.

Although PIA and other airlines are supposed to reschedule their flights for a month (Dec 15 to Jan 15) because of foggy weather, they are unable to manage their flights in “a few hours of clear sky”. The instrument landing system (category III) is said to be a solution to the problem.

A source in the aviation told Dawn that the ILS (III) could not be installed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport because of a residential area around it. “The aviation authorities will have to clear a substantial residential area which is next to impossible. What alternate the aviation experts suggest in this regard will have to be seen,” he said.

A PIA official said in the absence of the ILS (III), the national flag carrier as well as private and foreign airliners would have to reduce their operations at the Lahore airport during fog. “This seems to be the last option if the airliners want to save their passengers from hassle,” he said.

Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Pervez George told Dawn that a foreign experts team would visit here once the law and order situation improved to instal ILS (category III). “The aircraft, too, will also have to install this system. Installation of the ILS (III) at the Lahore airport will only be effective if the planes landing during fog also have it. Besides, training of pilots is also required,” he said.

Mr George further said the CAA had already issued a fog advisory to the airlines to reschedule their flights.

As thousands of passengers at Lahore airport faced a great deal of inconvenience because of delays, diversion and cancellation of their flights due to fog, some of them held protests outside the airlines offices for their ‘poor management.’

Published in Dawn January 13th , 2014

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