A warning notice by coalition forces operating in Iraq to all commercial flights and reports of deaths by friendly fire had a worried pilot community today asking authorities here to cancel flights to fly to Kuwait and re-route them to Dammam. The concern among pilots started with a March 20 notice to airmen and mariners by the coalition forces operating in Iraq. This was communicated to Indian pilots last week.According to this notice, commercial aircraft flying in the region close to Iraq will have to provide ‘‘timely and accurate’’ identification to ‘‘avoid the inadvertent use of force against civilian aircraft’’. Coalition forces have said they reserved the right to act in self defence against any flight they may consider ‘‘hostile’’.The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) today met authorities in Indian Airlines and asked them to consider rescheduling its Kuwait services to Dammam. Pilots have reported tremendous difficulty operating in the area, ICPA president V.K. Bhalla confirmed. The pilots say since Dammam is just a couple of hours journey from Kuwait, the inconvenience caused to Indians residing there will not be much.
