Overview

• Officials say the first trial could take place a day or two after Diwali if IMD clears suitable moisture-laden nimbostratus clouds.
• Four days of trial flights over northwest Delhi have been completed to familiarize pilots and validate the setup.
• DGCA has authorized operations from October 1 to November 30 under Rule 26(2) with strict safety and security conditions and approvals from more than 10 agencies.
• Five trials are planned over northwest Delhi at varying humidity levels, with water sampling after each run to assess environmental impact.
• Experts warn any reduction in AQI may be limited and dependent on rain intensity and coverage, as Delhi entered the 'poor' category this week and GRAP-1 curbs were imposed.