DGCA Overhauls Flight Safety Guidelines for Adverse Weather

Overview

• Revised circular applies to all scheduled and non-scheduled operators during pre-monsoon, monsoon and adverse weather operations.
• Captains are now instructed to prioritize safety over schedule adherence by initiating diversions or turnbacks when facing severe turbulence, windshear, icing or sudden visibility drops.
• The DGCA for the first time addresses ice crystal icing risks by advising pilots to navigate around affected areas laterally instead of climbing or descending through them.
• Crews must plan deviations at least 20 nautical miles upwind of convective activity and avoid flying beneath thunderstorm clouds to mitigate windshear, lightning and hail threats.
• Operators are urged to implement scenario-based simulator training focused on adverse weather decision-making and to enhance communication protocols among flight crews, cabin staff and air traffic control.