Air India, SpiceJet get notices over Non-CAT III compliant pilots

08 Jan 2024 CW Team

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show cause notice to both Air India and SpiceJet regarding the rostering of non-CAT III compliant pilots. The issuance of the notice followed the diversion of over 50 flights bound for Delhi airport due to low visibility on December 24-25 and December 27-28, as reported by the DGCA.

A senior official from the DGCA confirmed that the notice was prompted by the discovery that a significant number of flight diversions at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi were attributed to the deployment of pilots not compliant with CAT III standards. These pilots lacked the necessary training to operate flights during conditions of low visibility, such as fog.

The official mentioned that the airlines in question have been given a fifteen-day period to respond to the notice. CAT III, referring to a type of Instrument Landing System enabling landings in adverse weather like fog, snow, and rain, was highlighted as a crucial aspect in ensuring safe operations during challenging weather conditions. The civil aviation ministry is actively monitoring the fog situation on a daily basis.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a recent statement, emphasised the ministry's coordination with airports and airlines to address the fog-related challenges. Describing the fog issue as a "transitory phenomenon," Minister Scindia acknowledged the unprecedented density of fog this year. Dense fog and low visibility have affected the northern and northeastern parts of the country amid harsh winter conditions.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a maximum temperature of around 15 degrees in the national capital, with an expected decrease in fog conditions over the next two days. However, the IMD also anticipates the persistence of a cold wave in Delhi and the National Capital Region for the next 2-3 days.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..