Civil Aviation Dept. steps up safety measures due to thick fog

Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chaisak Angkasuwan (ชัยศักดิ์ อังค์สุวรรณ), says the department has stepped up safety measures for aviation during thick fog. Meanwhile, Director of the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Serirat Prasutanont (เสรีรัตน์ ประสุตานนท์), affirms no flight has been cancelled due to the fog situation.

Mr Chaisak says the thick fog phenomenon in the morning affects vision especially during taking-off and landing at an airport. The department has deployed air navigation aids and required pilots to strictly abide by aviation regulations to ensure safety for passengers, he says.

However, the Suvarnabhumi Airport director says the phenomenon has delayed some flights. Four flights had been delayed this morning at the airport.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 January 2008

Civil Aviation Dept. steps up safety measures due to thick fog

Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation, Chaisak Angkasuwan (ชัยศักดิ์ อังค์สุวรรณ), says the department has stepped up safety measures for aviation during thick fog. Meanwhile, Director of the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Serirat Prasutanont (เสรีรัตน์ ประสุตานนท์), affirms no flight has been cancelled due to the fog situation.

Mr Chaisak says the thick fog phenomenon in the morning affects vision especially during taking-off and landing at an airport. The department has deployed air navigation aids and required pilots to strictly abide by aviation regulations to ensure safety for passengers, he says.

However, the Suvarnabhumi Airport director says the phenomenon has delayed some flights. Four flights had been delayed this morning at the airport.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 January 2008

Excellent News, Flight TG945 from Rome yesterday landed off the Third! approach. I don't know if any other aircraft landed. After two approaches the captain had announced his intention to go to Don Mueang which, given the forecast which he would have seen in Rome and the actual weather was not on. After landing the 'Welcome to DM' announcement was made only to be over-ridden from the flight deck. After landing the wing-tips were not visible from the cabin, normally explained away by condensation on the windows. It is good to see that action is being taken, mistakes happen and reputations are made by admitting and preventing repeats. I would not be surprised to learn that the airport was in fact closed. I commend the DGCA for his integrity.

. The department has deployed air navigation aids and required pilots to strictly abide by aviation regulations to ensure safety for passengers, he says.

No idea what he is talking about. There are no new air navigation aids... exactly which type he is talking about no idea also.

I am not a pilot but understand each airline has it's own specific requirements for minimum ceiling (500 '), visibility (1 mile) so if there are not met they have to circle or divert. UTP seems like the preferred divert airport for BKK.

Not so long ago at NRT, on a UA flight waiting to take off for BKK in torrential rain I listened to ATC (Channel 9 on UA's audio system) as an NW 747 was on final approach. The NW pilots asked for the runway lights to be turned up to maximum, then they chose to go around. In the subsequent conversations with Narita tower the NW pilot stated that the ceiling was too low per company rules.

Is this early morning fog a new problem at BKK? I don't recall hearing about it last year, if it is some sort of seasonal phenomenon? I assume they have to increase separation and use single mode operation at BKK slowing down arrivals and departures.

Three weeks ago I experienced my scariest landing: near hurricane conditions at SFO, winds 42 gusting to 65, micro-bursts, but pretty decent ceiling and visibility, wind-shear numbers forced us, and just about every other aircraft to go around. We landed on the second try, otherwise it was off to LAX, but many other planes did not land; in-bound Asia flights diverted to LAX, while smaller aircraft went SMF and other airports. SFO and NORCAL did a great job that day, as did our pilot! (She sounded much cooler than most of the other pilots that day.)

. The department has deployed air navigation aids and required pilots to strictly abide by aviation regulations to ensure safety for passengers, he says.

No idea what he is talking about. There are no new air navigation aids... exactly which type he is talking about no idea also.

The significance of the statement is in the "strictly abide by aviation regulations".

"strictly abide by aviation regulations".

Goes without saying....well for most carriers into BKK

I am not a pilot but understand each airline has it's own specific requirements for minimum ceiling (500 '), visibility (1 mile) so if there are not met they have to circle or divert. UTP seems like the preferred divert airport for BKK.

That is sort of the case. The pilots fly according to the company regulations. However these regulations are approved by their own Civil Aviation Authority, and are influenced by international agreements, so in practice most company regulations are very similar.

The minimums are also varied according to the category of blind landing equipment at a particular airport, what the aircraft is equipped with and what the pilots are approved to do and are current with.

At the best equipped end, with a Category III C ILS installed, autoland on the aircraft, and pilots qualified and current, the minimums are zero, in height and range is possible legally. That is why, for example, London and Paris can stay open and operational for as long as they do (although I believe they are Category III A (100' decision height), I stand to be corrected)

On top of that, the crew, even if minimum conditions are met, can choose to reject a landing anyway, the buck stops there as far as safety is concerned.

As dekka says, it's a bit misleading, they havnt deployed anything in reaction to the fog. So much blah blah from this DG

. The department has deployed air navigation aids and required pilots to strictly abide by aviation regulations to ensure safety for passengers, he says.

No idea what he is talking about. There are no new air navigation aids... exactly which type he is talking about no idea also.

I'm surprised he didn't warn pilots to make sure they have their foglights switched on