Fog at SVA disrupts air operations, delays of 5 flights
   Date :18-Dec-2019

Fog at SVA disrupts air o
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Raipur,
 
A thick blanket of fog that enveloped Swami Vivekananda Airport (SVA) since wee hours of Tuesday severely affected the air operations. Landing and take-off of all the flights remained suspended till the requisite visibility of 1200 meters was achieved by 12 noon, which resulted in delays of five flights to several key destinations. “Indigo 245 Kolkata-Raipur; IndiGo 2757 Delhi-Raipur; IndiGo 938 Hyderabad-Raipur; IndiGo 405 Bengaluru-Raipur and Air India 469 Delhi-Raipur affected the Schedule Time of Departure (STD) and Actual Time of Arrival (ATA),” Raipur Airport Director (APD) Rakesh Ranjan Sahay told (Contd on page 6) the media persons.
 
According to Sahay, the visibility of runway gradually improved. “It was merely 50 meter when the airport opened on Tuesday at 6 am and reached 100 meters by 6.30 am, then read 300 meters at 8.30 am, again 800 meters at 9 am and finally 1200 meters at 9.30 am after which the flight operations resumed normalcy. All these updates about the inclement weather were being availed to Raipur Airport through Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) of India Meteorological Department (IMD),” he added.
 
 
Sahay further said that the poor weather conditions affected arrival of morning flights for an average half an hour to maximum one hour. “The first flight to land at SVA runway on Tuesday was IndiGo 938 Hyderabad to Raipur at 10.25 am, followed by Indigo 245 Kolkata to Raipur at 10.40 am, Air India 469 Delhi to Raipur at 11.10 am, IndiGo 2757 Delhi to Raipur at 11.20 am and IndiGo 405 Bengaluru to Raipur at 11.40 am,” he affirmed. To a query, APD confirmed that the Raipur Aiport is all geared up to tackle any emergency situation arising out of unforeseeable weather conditions.
 
“For the reasons, TAF has confirmed that ‘mist and fog’ – also termed as MIFG under aviation terminology forecast – may prevail on Wednesday morning as well, wherein the closes aviation forecast is expected to be 600 meter between 5.50 am to 7.30 am,” he maintained. Rubika Liyaquat, renowned TV journalist from ABP News, was one among many Raipur-bound air passengers, who was stuck at Delhi airport, since none of the flight operators were allowed to take-off for Swami Vivekananda Airport due to foggy conditions here. The senior journalist had her tickets booked from IndiGo 2757 Delhi to Raipur flight, which landed here almost an hour late. The senior journalist was extremely upset and peeved over the unprecedented delay in the take-off of her flight to Raipur, since she was coming here to interview top functionaries of ruling Congress and BJP.
 
“However, when no one responsible from the private carrier could reach out to her and explain the exact reasons behind the delays, she vented out her displeasure through a tweet from her twitter handle @RubikaLiyaquat,” the sources added. Her tweet read – So the weather is bad only for @IndiGo6E all other flights to Raipur are on time lekin mausam sirf kharab hai apke liye. Stop fooling your customers. (It seems inclement weather conditions persist only for IndiGo, while all other Raipur-bound flights were operating time. It seems the weather is exclusively poor for you – IndiGo. Don’t make fool of your customers). Rubika Liyaqaut, however, was taken by a pleasant surprise on her delayed arrival to Raipur Airport at 11.20 am, when Raipur Airport Director Rakesh Ranjan Sahay and his team personally welcomed the senior TV journalist by presenting her a bouquet. The Raipur Airport officials then also explained to her the reason behind the delay of the flight after which she was all gaga for such a warm reception and hospitality.