Six pilots de-rostered a day after plane-skid in Mumbai

Six pilots de-rostered a day after plane-skid in MumbaiNew Delhi, Nov 11 : The aviation regulator Wednesday de-rostered six pilots of Kingfisher Airlines, Air India and Go Air for violating norms and landing on a short runway under rainy conditions at the Mumbai airport.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) initiated action on a day after a Kingfisher aircraft skidded off the runway at the airport.

"Three airlines on November 10 operated flights during wet runway conditions at Mumbai airport. We have issued show-cause notices to these three operators for alleged violations of directions regarding wet runway operations," DGCA said.

"No operation shall take place when runway surface is wet," it said, adding: "No assisted take-off and landing is permitted (under these conditions)."

The DGCA has also asked the three airlines to explain why their pilots violated norms when operating on a wet and short runway, despite the guidelines of the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the airport developer.

MIAL is currently working on overlaying a runway at Mumbai airport. The work started Oct 1 and is expected to end by January.

During this period, this tarmac is available on Tuesdays only for six hours for short runway operations till March next year. (IANS)