Private flights restricted

Private flying in and out of Mumbai is expected to come to a halt over the weekend owing to the security restrictions that have been put in place.

Private flying in and out of Mumbai is expected to come to a halt over the weekend owing to the security restrictions that have been put in place ahead of US President Barack Obamas visit. Many non-scheduled operators,who operate out of Mumbai airport,have been told they are not likely to get slots on November 5,6 and 7 even if they file a flight plan.

We have been informally told by the airport authorities to restrict our movements and fly only if it is necessary or urgent, a non-scheduled operator said. We have been told we are not likely to get slots even if we apply. Informally we have been warned that our curfew hours could extend with only a few hours notice, another operator said.

Since August,non scheduled operations which include private fixed wing airplanes and helicopters have been restricted to only four flights an hour at the Mumbai airport,in an effort to manage the congested air traffic over Mumbai. They have to operate around three curfew hours from 8 to 10 in the morning,5.30 pm to 7.30 pm and 9.15 pm to 11.15 pm (which was introduced recently in mid September in an effort to curb late night arrival delays for commerical airlines).

Sources say on these three days,even passengers traveling in scheduled commercial airlines need to gear up for delays. This is because the Air traffic Control will clear Mumbai airspace and the runways as soon they learn that Air Force One and the US presidents convoy of aircraft are approaching Mumbai airport. Regular flights approaching Mumbai will either be diverted or asked to hold,which will lead to cascading delays in the subsequent hours. The airspace is likely to be reserved for the US president for atleast 15 minutes, an airport source said.

Normally,for VIP movement,airspace is shut for six minutes.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram