'Unstabilised' flight approaches pose concern for Ind ATCs

Even as air traffic grows at a rapid pace in the country, it has been found that about one- fifth of missed landings in India, which force pilots to opt for a 'go-around', are "unstabilised".
This has led to serious concern amongst aviation and airport authorities who have started organising joint workshops and interactions for pilots and air traffic control officers (ATCOs) to address the problems encountered by both in such situations.
An unstabilised approach is a landing approach during which an aircraft does not maintain stability of at least one of the variables -- speed, descent rate, vertical or lateral flight path and landing configuration. Such approaches generally account for most approach and landing accidents.

Missed landings, particularly due to unstabilised approaches, form about 20 per cent of the total go-around incidents, according to Airports Authority of India (AAI) data.
At a recent interaction of pilots and ATCOs organised by AAI here, serious concern was expressed by the authority's top-brass on the issue. AAI is the sole provider of all air navigation, or ATC, services in the country.
ATCOs from several airports of north India and pilots from airlines like Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and GoAir discussed the pros and cons of unstabilised approaches and 'go -around' on air traffic control.

Launching the workshop, AAI Board Member (Air Navigation Service) V Somasundaram said air traffic controllers should work to enhance awareness among flight crews about the impact on ATC when an aircraft established on final approach decides to 'go-around' owing to unstable approaches.

On such occasions, ATCOs have to take split-second decisions to allow the aircraft to go around by making way for it among the other planes approaching the runway.
Somasundaram also elaborated on several measures which AAI has taken to enhance safety and efficiency of aircraft operations in the country, including initiatives related to improving communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems (CNS-ATM).
Participants at the workshop discussed causes of unstabilised approach, their effects on air traffic control systems, flight crew and passengers, and remedial measures.
It was also decided at the workshop to form a group of ATC officers and senior commanders of airlines to identify and resolve safety issues through coordination and consensus.