Take off within 5 mins of clearance or go last: Aviation body tells airlines

The national aviation watchdog has ordered that if a flight does not initiate take off within five minutes of air traffic control (ATC) clearance, it will be moved to the end of the queue and allowed to depart only when a slot is available.

The move is likely to penalise airlines with poor on-time performance, ensure that those with a better record do not suffer and prevent a ripple effect on operations if a flight is delayed.

“Approval for push back and start up shall be valid for five minutes only. Aircraft not adhering to push back clearance will go back in the sequence. Subsequent clearance will be given based on available slot,” read an order issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on September 27. The instructions have been issued to scheduled airlines and airport operators and are meant for “strict compliance”.

“Aircraft shall complete all pre-departure checks and cabin procedures prior to entering the runway and start rolling as soon take-off clearance is issued by the ATC,” it said.

Airlines not adhering to their time slots will lose their “historicity” during the preparation of schedule for the next season, which means a poor track record will spoil their chances of getting the sought-after slots. The body has also asked airports to ensure that departure slots are “distributed evenly within an hour with not more than five departure slots in 10 minutes”. PTI

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