Flights are getting canceled as the fog increases.
The fog is wreaking havoc. After the accidents on the expressway, its effect is now visible on the planes. Flights are being canceled due to fog. How much the fog is affecting can be understood from the data of Delhi’s IGI Airport. According to the report of The Hindu, on Monday alone, 228 flights were canceled and more than 800 were delayed. Similar situation occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday also.
In view of the fog, airlines like Indigo, Air India and SpiceJet have issued travel advisories. Airlines have advised passengers to check their flight status due to inclement weather conditions which are affecting major airports like Delhi and other northern and eastern airports. The Indian Aviation Authority has also issued a warning of disruption in flights due to dense fog. Meanwhile, many flights departed late and many were cancelled.Now the question arises that when there is so much fog and visibility, the flight is canceled?
How is takeoff-landing decided?
According to the Airport Authority of India, a special type of navigation system is used for the landing and take-off of aircraft. It is called Instrument Landing System (ILS). Be it heavy rain or fog, it helps in safe landing of the aircraft in every situation. If you understand in simple language, it works like a superhero for the pilot of the plane, who tells the pilot about the weather conditions so that he can decide whether to land or take off.
When the fog increases, flights get canceled?
The instrument landing system has two major parts. The first is Localiser and the second is Glidescope. These work to provide weather information to the pilot. Whether landing will take place or not, whether the aircraft will take off or not, is decided on the basis of the category of the instrument landing system. This system is divided into four categories. Every category has been created on the basis of two things.
- First: Decision Height (DH), this is the minimum height at which the pilot decides whether to land or not.
- Second: Runway visual range: This is the distance from which the pilot can stand on the runway and see the runway lights or markings. This is the most important parameter for landing and taking off in fog.
Understand from the category when will the flight or landing take place or not?
- ILS Category-I: This is for small and normal airports. The decision height (DH) for landing should not be less than 200 feet. This may cause delay in the plane. Or can be stopped. At the same time, visibility on the runway should be more than 550 meters. If it is less than this, the flight may be cancelled.
- ILS Category-II: In the airports of the country where this category is applicable, the decision height (DH) should not be less than 200 feet, otherwise landing becomes difficult. At the same time, visibility on the runway for takeoff should not be less than 200 meters. If this continues for a long time, flights may be cancelled.
- ILS Category-III: This category is for airports like IGI of Delhi. Decision height (DH) should not be less than 50 feet, otherwise landing becomes difficult. At the same time, visibility on the runway for takeoff should not be less than 50 meters. If this continues for a long time, flights may be cancelled.
Why is landing more risky than takeoff?
Boeing’s research says that usually 4 percent of the total aircraft travel time is spent in landing. 49 percent of plane accidents occur during landing. Its risk increases further due to reduced visibility due to fog. However, the ILS system provides signals on the basis of which decisions are taken.
Also read: Why does fog suddenly increase in the morning? Questions raised due to increase in accidents on expressway