DGCA Issues Strict Safety Protocols
VIINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Nov 24: Indian aviation authorities have issued a detailed operational advisory to all domestic airlines following significant volcanic ash activity reported across the Muscat Flight Information Region (FIR), a critical airspace used by several India–Gulf and Europe-bound flights. The directive comes after Toulouse and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) released a Volcanic Ash Advisory along with an ASHTAM classifying the situation as hazardous for aircraft operations. Operators have been instructed to take immediate precautionary measures to protect passengers, crew, and aircraft against the risks posed by volcanic ash clouds.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stressed the need for strict adherence to operational manuals dealing with volcanic ash response and has directed airline management to brief all flight crew, dispatch teams, and cabin crew urgently. The advisory underscores that flight crew must avoid all published ash-affected areas and altitudes, adjust routing and fuel planning as required, and report any suspected ash encounter without delay, including indications such as engine fluctuations, abnormal performance, or the presence of cabin smoke or unusual odour. Dispatchers have been told to closely monitor updated NOTAMs, ASHTAM bulletins, volcanic ash movement forecasts, and evolving weather conditions throughout the day.
The advisory further requires airlines to modify dispatch procedures and operational minima wherever necessary, while also instructing them to carry out thorough post-flight inspections of engines and airframes for any aircraft that may have operated near contaminated regions. Operators have been reminded that flight delays or suspensions may become unavoidable should conditions deteriorate, and all safety decisions must prioritize risk management over schedule integrity.
A comprehensive internal Safety Risk Management process has been activated across airlines, focusing on continuous monitoring of engine performance, signs of cabin contamination, and weather patterns that may influence ash dispersion. Compliance with aircraft manufacturer guidelines and ICAO volcanic ash handling procedures has been emphasized to ensure technical safety standards remain uncompromised.
At the airport level, the advisory notes that if volcanic ash deposition is detected, runway and apron inspections must begin immediately, as ash accumulation can severely affect braking performance and ground visibility. In such cases, airport operations may be temporarily restricted or suspended until cleaning procedures are completed and surfaces are cleared for safe use.
Airline operators have also been directed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of the volcanic ash cloud through satellite images, meteorological data, and continuously updated advisories. With frequent changes expected in ash movement patterns, authorities have insisted that operators remain vigilant and responsive to new forecasts.
The aviation sector is now watching the situation closely, as prolonged ash activity could disrupt flight schedules across several Indian airports, particularly on routes connecting India to the Gulf. Experts warn that volcanic ash exposure can melt inside engines, sandblast aircraft windshields, and damage instruments, potentially leading to inflight emergencies if precautions are not rigorously followed.
Authorities have instructed that the information be immediately circulated within airline operational departments and that strict compliance be maintained until further orders. Further updates will be issued depending on how the ash cloud evolves in the coming days.
