New Delhi: The Centre has initiated a process to unlock restricted airspace over several states for commercial aircraft, which can eventually shorten flying distances, slash fuel costs and lower airfares.
The Union civil aviation ministry has set up an inter-ministerial panel with representatives from the aviation and defence ministries, the directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India to determine which restricted zones will be opened to civilian flights.
"About 70 per cent of the country's airspace is currently controlled by the defence ministry and is not open for civilian flights," a senior aviation ministry official told The Telegraph. "This has resulted in longer-than-necessary flight durations, increased fuel use by aircraft, heavy congestion of commercial flights around airports and extra burden on our aviation resources."
The official added: "We've now initiated a programme called 'civil-military cooperation for optimal use of airspace', which will look at unlocking less sensitive or less security-relevant airspace for civilian flights."
Fuel accounts for around 40 per cent of aviation costs. Any reduction in the fuel bill will increase the profitability of airlines and widen their room to offer lower fares.
Once the restricted airspace zones have been opened, there will be separate designated airspaces for military and commercial flights, with specified altitude ranges and limits where commercial aircraft can operate. Wide-bodied aircraft, too, could operate through the restricted airspace but at the discretion of the aviation regulator.
To Read the News in Full 03/10/16 Telegraph
The Union civil aviation ministry has set up an inter-ministerial panel with representatives from the aviation and defence ministries, the directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India to determine which restricted zones will be opened to civilian flights.
"About 70 per cent of the country's airspace is currently controlled by the defence ministry and is not open for civilian flights," a senior aviation ministry official told The Telegraph. "This has resulted in longer-than-necessary flight durations, increased fuel use by aircraft, heavy congestion of commercial flights around airports and extra burden on our aviation resources."
The official added: "We've now initiated a programme called 'civil-military cooperation for optimal use of airspace', which will look at unlocking less sensitive or less security-relevant airspace for civilian flights."
Fuel accounts for around 40 per cent of aviation costs. Any reduction in the fuel bill will increase the profitability of airlines and widen their room to offer lower fares.
Once the restricted airspace zones have been opened, there will be separate designated airspaces for military and commercial flights, with specified altitude ranges and limits where commercial aircraft can operate. Wide-bodied aircraft, too, could operate through the restricted airspace but at the discretion of the aviation regulator.
To Read the News in Full 03/10/16 Telegraph
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