Fireman guides plane to land in absence of ATC at Tirupati airport
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Fireman guides plane to land in absence of ATC at Tirupati airport
CHENNAI: "Good morning ATC. This is flight 9W 2761... flight level 200," radioed a pilot of the Hyderabad-Tirupati Jet Airways flight with 60 passengers on board as it approached the Tirupati airport at 7.30am on January 9. At the other end, inside the air traffic control tower of the airport, it was a fireman who replied.
As neither of the two air traffic controllers supposed to be on duty had turned up, fireman Basha called up airport deputy manager Janarthanan who instructed him to take control of the ATC. Taking directions from the AAI official over the phone, Basha entered the ATC tower and operated the radio. Speaking in broken English, he gave the pilot the information needed for a safe landing.
Pilots coming in to land at the Tirupati airport, which has minimal landing support equipment, rely mostly on visual approach and inputs from the ATC. The airport handles seven flights daily, but doesn't have an approach radar. An air traffic controller is posted in shifts to tell the pilot about runway conditions, weather, wind speed and wind shear before giving the clearance to land.
As neither of the two air traffic controllers supposed to be on duty had turned up, fireman Basha called up airport deputy manager Janarthanan who instructed him to take control of the ATC. Taking directions from the AAI official over the phone, Basha entered the ATC tower and operated the radio. Speaking in broken English, he gave the pilot the information needed for a safe landing.
Pilots coming in to land at the Tirupati airport, which has minimal landing support equipment, rely mostly on visual approach and inputs from the ATC. The airport handles seven flights daily, but doesn't have an approach radar. An air traffic controller is posted in shifts to tell the pilot about runway conditions, weather, wind speed and wind shear before giving the clearance to land.
Doest that mean the fire fighter warrants a field promotion?
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Why divert?
Lots of places around the world have Air Carrier service to airports that are not served by an Air Traffic Control tower.
As long as the required fire cover was available and it is not prohibited by the operator or regulator in India, then I really don't see the fuss.
Lots of places around the world have Air Carrier service to airports that are not served by an Air Traffic Control tower.
As long as the required fire cover was available and it is not prohibited by the operator or regulator in India, then I really don't see the fuss.
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I would divert. It is a controlled airport, so if there is no one there, one should not land. Differently from an uncontrolled field.
So, you land, something happens, and they ask you: "why didn't you divert ??". I would not take the chance.
So, you land, something happens, and they ask you: "why didn't you divert ??". I would not take the chance.
