Mangalore: "Could have been avoided, but too late. Hope Mangalore incident will be the first and last in history. We/govt learned many things about fake passports, sleepy pilots, quick firefighters, extended runway, modern airport facility, thieves, money lovers, and of course departed souls. Many lives changed for many reasons." Sharjah-based Stevie's comment on an online portal in fact summarises the loud thinking that has prevailed in the aftermath of Air India Express flight IX812 that killed 158 passengers and crew in India's worst aviation disaster in a decade. Ironically, the air crash acted as a catalyst in infusing professionalism in the aviation section and expedited projects aimed at enhancing safety.
Close on the heels of the air crash, Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council was set up to strengthen aviation safety environment. Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) in IX812 proved Serbianborn pilot Zlatko Glusica (55) paid no heed to the suggestion of first officer HS Ahluwalia (41).
Co-pilots are empowered to take control under revised guidelines for Cockpit Resource Management (CRM). Pre-flight medical checks and breath analyser test have been made mandatory for pilots and foreign pilots are subjected to checks before approval is granted by Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Dr Nasim Zaidi Committee on flight and duty time limitation and rest requirements for flight night crew members, submitted its report and has been accepted by the DGCA.
Developments at airport post crash
A review of recommendations made by Court of Inquiry of Mangalore crash headed by retired Air Marshal B N Gokhale, has revealed that action had been initiated on issues raised in the report by the DGCA. Post the crash, Mangalore Airport has been tagged like Patna and Calicut Airports as 'critical aerodrome.'
Many airport users assert that the critical status will do more harm than good to the airport poised for expansion.
As the ill-fated aircraft landed far beyond the touchdown point, Mangalore Airport took corrective measures by having markers installed on either side of the runway in the pattern of the Air Force at a cost of Rs 10.5 lakh.
Observations by the Court of Inquiry on the inadequacy of Runway End Safety Area (RESA) is being redressed, Mangalore Airport director M R Vasudeva informed Express. The works aimed at elevating the paved area of 237 metres at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, is likely to be completed by Mayend.
With the DGCA undertaking a special drive for licensing of AAI airports, Mangalore Airport too received its licence which had remained elusive until the time of air crash. After the crash, the airline has two doctors in Mangalore Airport to conduct premedical flight checks on crew.
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