Chennai airport: Diwali haze threat to pilots

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The combined effects of rain and smoke from firecrackers might bring down visibility levels at the Chennai airport this week.
While pilots might experience foggy conditions early in the morning due to dust and smoke from crackers settling on moisture after night rains, the evenings are going to be particularly hard as rockets from high-rise buildings near the airport could be distracting.

"Like laser beams, fire crackers could also divert the attention of pilots. There is even a DGCA circular stating there shouldn’t be any crackers within a particular radius of the airport as it might affect landings and take-offs," said an aviation expert.

Experienced pilots, however, told Deccan Chronicle that visibility in Chennai and other Southern cities is far better than the North of India, especially Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur, during Deepavali.

"In the North, the weather would also be very cold and so, it would be near impossible to land. But in the South, we usually have 85 per cent visibility during such times," said a pilot.

When contacted, aviation expert Capt. A. Ranganathan said that city airport had experienced flight diversion during the Bhogi
festival, which precedes Pongal celebrations.

"There are chances of low visibility during Deepavali especially if it rains the previous night. However, pilots can safely land using the Instrument Landing System (ILS) if the visibility levels are as low as 550 to 600 metres," he added.