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The Civil Aviation Ministry held its first meeting on winter fog preparedness on 27 October 2026 under Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, with IMD expecting the fog season from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027.
Why is it in the news?
- PIB reported on 27 October 2026 that the Ministry held its first meeting on preparedness for fog during the coming winter.
- The meeting was chaired by Civil Aviation Secretary Shri Samir Kumar Sinha.
- IMD officials said the fog season is expected from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027.
Who was told to do what?
| Body | Direction |
|---|---|
| DGCA | Regulatory oversight, crew and aircraft readiness |
| AAI and airport operators | ILS and RVR systems, airside safety, terminal capacity |
| Airlines | Qualified crew, practical schedules, timely decisions |
| IMD | Reliable forecasts and timely updates |
| ATC and ANSPs | Safe sequencing of traffic in fog |
| BCAS and CISF | Orderly movement, re-entry and re-boarding |
Participants included the DGCA Director General, the AAI Chairman, senior officials of BCAS, CISF and IMD, and representatives of Delhi airport, other fog-affected airports and airlines. The aim was to review readiness and coordination of all stakeholders.
What did the Ministry ask each agency to do?
DGCA was asked to carry out regulatory oversight, check compliance with directions and verify aircraft and crew readiness, and to see that airlines take effective passenger facilitation measures. AAI and airport operators were told to ensure ILS and RVR systems, airside safety, adequate terminal capacity and effective coordination during low visibility.
Airlines were told to ensure qualified crew and compliant aircraft for low-visibility flying, prepare practical flight schedules and take operational decisions on time. IMD was asked to give reliable forecasts, regular observations and timely updates. Air traffic control and air navigation service providers were told to ensure safe sequencing of traffic and follow low-visibility procedures.
The release also covers the role of BCAS and CISF in safe and orderly movement of passengers, including re-entry to the terminal and re-boarding where needed. Airlines were told that their ground handlers must have enough staff for baggage handling and aircraft turnaround.
What did the Ministry stress for passengers?
- Timely information on delays, cancellations and rescheduling by SMS, mobile app and email.
- Adequate staff at check-in counters, airline helpdesks and customer care.
- Knowledgeable and empowered staff at helpdesks.
- Ground handlers with enough staff for baggage and aircraft turnaround.
What is the Uttar Pradesh angle?
The release does not list any Uttar Pradesh airport. It refers to Delhi airport and other fog-affected airports only. For a UP link, use the State's airport authorities and AAI notices; no UP figure is claimed here.
Likely confusions
- ILS guides landing; RVR measures runway visibility.
- DGCA oversees aircraft and crew rules; BCAS and CISF deal with security and passenger movement.
- The fog dates are an IMD expectation, not a fixed calendar.
Key Terms
- DGCA
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
- AAI
- Airports Authority of India.
- ILS
- Instrument Landing System.
- RVR
- Runway Visual Range.
- BCAS
- Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
UPPSC syllabus: GS-III
FAQs
Who chaired the meeting?
Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha.
When is fog expected?
IMD expects the fog season from 15 December 2026 to 15 February 2027.
Sources: PIB: Civil Aviation Ministry holds first fog preparedness meeting
Last verified: 2026-10-29
