DGCA Tightens Monsoon Flying Guidelines Amid Rising Weather Risks



DGCA Responds to Rising Monsoon Weather Threats

In light of increasing weather-related flight incidents during the Indian monsoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued revised operational guidelines to reinforce aviation safety. This development follows an incident involving IndiGo flight 6E 2142 from Delhi to Srinagar, which sustained nose cone damage mid-air due to severe weather but landed safely with 227 passengers.

Issued on June 12, the updated circular underscores the growing impact of climate-driven weather volatility on civil aviation and the need for advanced safety practices during this sensitive season.

Weather Hazards Identified in the Revised Guidelines

The DGCA highlights specific monsoon-related risks that must be actively avoided by pilots and airlines:

  • Heavy rainfall

  • Turbulence and windshear

  • Lightning and hailstorms

  • Enroute icing

  • Microbursts and convective weather systems

Pilots are now required to maintain a minimum lateral distance of 20 nautical miles upwind of such weather formations. The circular also discourages flying beneath convective clouds due to heightened exposure to windshear and lightning strikes.

Ice Crystal Icing (ICI): A Key Operational Focus

One of the most significant updates in the circular is the emphasis on Ice Crystal Icing (ICI)—a complex phenomenon where high concentrations of microscopic ice crystals, commonly found near storm systems at high altitudes, enter aircraft engines.

ICI can cause:

  • Engine vibration

  • Thrust loss

  • Potential damage to air data sensors and probes

DGCA recommends lateral deviations (instead of altitude changes) as the preferred method of ICI avoidance, reinforcing pilot decision-making in upper-level enroute conditions.

Crew Experience and Fatigue Risk Management

The DGCA has instructed airlines to ensure that more experienced flight crew members are deployed during monsoon operations. It also mandates strict adherence to Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL) and explicitly disallows any FDTL extensions during the monsoon season to address fatigue risk management.

This move places operational emphasis on crew preparedness and psychological readiness in challenging weather environments.

Scenario-Based Training & Threat and Error Management (TEM)

To promote better decision-making under dynamic conditions, the circular recommends scenario-based training modules for pilots. These exercises should simulate real-time weather complications and empower pilots to evaluate options such as:

  • Enroute weather deviations

  • Returning to origin airports

  • Early diversions to alternate airports

The circular promotes the Threat and Error Management (TEM) framework, urging airlines to treat diversions or turnbacks as proactive safety actions, not operational failures.

Caution During Approach and Landing

Visual illusions during night-time rain approaches pose serious landing risks. The DGCA warns that:

  • Bright approach lights can create false perception of proximity, leading to premature descent.

  • Wet runways may diminish reflected light, causing late flare and hard landings.

Pilots are advised to carefully assess visibility and stay alert to illusions that can distort descent judgment, particularly in low-visibility or heavy rainfall conditions.

Strengthening Real-Time Weather Reporting (PIREP)

The DGCA reiterates the need for accurate and timely Pilot Reports (PIREPs), which serve as vital supplements to traditional forecasts. These reports provide:

  • Real-time turbulence updates

  • Visibility issues

  • Icing encounters

  • Storm positions

This ground-level data supports safer decision-making for both pilots and air traffic control teams, enhancing airspace safety during peak monsoon months.

Prioritising Safety Over Schedules

In its concluding note, the DGCA has urged all operators to prioritise passenger safety above schedule commitments. In an era where climate-driven weather events are becoming more erratic and severe, airlines are reminded to act with caution, empower pilots, and enhance internal coordination across all stages of flight.

This advisory is a crucial signal that aviation safety standards must evolve with the environment. Through a more precautionary, data-informed, and crew-experienced approach, the DGCA aims to ensure that the 2024 monsoon season passes without major safety lapses.

Conclusion:
The DGCA’s new guidelines represent a significant recalibration of India’s monsoon flying protocols. They reinforce that in the face of unpredictable weather and increasing climate risk, proactive mitigation, pilot training, and clear safety communication are non-negotiable elements in modern aviation.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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