There has been a spurt in aircraft landings after “go-around” of the aircraft over the New Delhi IGI airport in the past three months, prompting the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) to advise airlines to order their pilots to keep the speed of the aircraft within the requisite limit as the aircraft approaches the Delhi airport for landing. The advice
was given by the AAI to airlines at a meeting in the city on Tuesday. The AAI handles the air traffic control function (ATC) at airports across the country.
A “go-around” is resorted to, if the pilot or ATC feel that the plane should not land as it approaches the airport for landing on account of any factor. So the pilot circles over the airport before approaching once again to land. A “go-around” can take place if the pilot or ATC feel the aircraft may have an unstabilised approach or if another aircraft has not vacated the runway.
However, DGCA rules permit the pilot to “go-around” if he feels this is the best course of action. It may be recalled that the pilot of the ill-fated Air India Express aircraft at Mangalore airport last year had not heeded calls from his co-pilot for a “go-around” and decided to land which resulted in an unstabilised approach and the crash in May 2010.