‘A plane taking off without ATC nod is serious’

 ‘A plane taking off without ATC nod is serious’

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02.02.2021

A senior pilot said, “A serious thing has happened, a plane taking off without ATC clearance. The probe will ascertain how this happened and who is at fault. Was it a communication gap, error or something else needs to be found as such a thing cannot be allowed to be repeated. ”

ATC gives clearance for an aircraft to land or take off after after ascertaining, among other things, that the runway is clear with no vehicle, other plane or person being there.

“Pilots initiate push back of an aircraft after getting ATC nod. Then engine start-up is also done with their permission. The ATC then gives permission to line up (be absolutely ready to take off) and subsequently to take off,’’ said another senior commander.

SpiceJet’s Rajkot-Delhi flight takes off sans nod

New Delhi: The last year ended on a dramatic note for Indian aviation with a passenger aircraft taking off without air traffic control (ATC) clearance. This incident happened when a SpiceJet flight took off from Rajkot for Delhi without the mandatory nod on the penultimate day of 2021 — December 30. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing this serious lapse.

“A SpiceJet Q400 (VTSUQ) operating Rajkot-Delhi as SJ-3703 on December 30, 2021, took off from Rajkot without ATC clearance. The pilots have been being of rostered(taken off flying duty) pending investigation,” said people in the know. A senior DGCA official said “strict action” will be taken against those found responsible for the lapse based on the outcome of the probe.

A SpiceJet spokesman said, “Pilots have been off rostered pending an inquiry.”