You Are Not Trained

YOU ARE NOT TRAINED

It was yet another winter morning. The departure was from Bangalore at 0553 IST on 20th January 2012, the destination Delhi. I had performed a CAT IIIB landing on runway 28 in Delhi with the visibility (RVR) of 75 metres and we had parked on stand 121, far away from the Terminal-1 building. Since morning, not a single aircraft had departed due to low visibility. For take-off, the RVR requirement was 125 metres.

The visibility in the parking area was so low that one could not even see the 3rd aircraft parked in the same row. I knew that whenever the visibility became within minima there would be heavy congestion and one would be down below in the queue for departure because many Delhi-based aircraft would have been waiting since daybreak. Hence, to be up in the sequence one needed to complete the boarding of passengers as per the SOP. For a delayed flight it is generally very challenging for the commercial staff to deal with the passengers — they would rather have them in the aircraft. For me to get the departure sequence I needed to have the passengers on board and the doors closed.

To obviate the ground staff problem of dealing with the passengers, I told them: if you upload the free refreshment snacks and beverages immediately as per the company policy of a delayed flight, I shall announce boarding. That would facilitate passenger handling for the cabin crew, I thought, and I would get the departure sequence. They agreed with alacrity. Boarding was announced and once completed we were in the queue for departure.

Then I came into the cabin and made an announcement: "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the flight to Bangalore! At this moment the weather is below minima and the duration is uncertain. The question you would ask is, why did we bring you on board? Let me explain — since morning not a single aircraft has taken off from Delhi and there is heavy congestion. Departure sequence is given only once the boarding is completed and the doors are closed. Now our sequence is 38 for departure. With an interval of 3 minutes between aircraft and two runways in operation, we expect to depart in one hour after the visibility is within minima. We shall soon serve refreshments and hot beverages. We shall do our best to minimise your inconvenience."

"In addition, post completion of food service, you will get to visit the cockpit in batches of 3 to see the Airbus A320 cockpit and the technology used to fly it. Since the load is full, kindly do not stay for more than 3 to 4 minutes as everyone should get a chance to have a look. Today we are 3 crew members — one will be in the cockpit and 2 will be in the cabin to answer questions, if any."

As soon as I had finished the announcement, one lady news reporter approached me and said, "Captain, I think you people are not trained to operate in this kind of weather and you are only making excuses." I smiled and told her to accompany me to the door and asked her if she could see the 3rd aircraft. She answered emphatically, "No!" I informed her that I had just landed in this weather. My crew and I are fully trained and competent to operate, but we have to operate within the rules laid down by the regulatory authority. I told her to share with her office the reason for the flight delay and have it announced on her media channel that Captain Gill would be willing to depart if the regulatory authority permitted him. Thereafter, being a reporter, she never acknowledged her gaffe, but her body language said it all.

At 1045H the visibility was still below minima, and now Delhi airspace was to be closed from 1100 to 1200 H for the flypast practice for Republic Day.

I decided to update the passengers and made an announcement: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Today seems to be a real test of our patience against nationalism and patriotism. Today is 22nd January and Republic Day is only 4 days away — a day when the world witnesses the military and cultural might of India, paraded in the presence of representatives of several countries, including some Heads of State, on Kartavya Path. The grand finale is the spectacular display of Indian Air Force aircraft flying past the saluting dais with perfect precision and time at 1200H, when the President takes the salute."

"I am very sure that even this year we would all want to witness the mesmerising display by the Air Force and feel proud. Unfortunately, I just learnt that this year due to prolonged bad weather they have not been able to carry out even one rehearsal. One such flypast is planned today, due to which there is an airspace closure over Delhi between 1100 H and 1200 H, which would further delay our departure. I am sure we would accept this inconvenience for our national and patriotic fervour. We are likely to depart soon thereafter; meanwhile we shall serve you some refreshments. Thank you!"

We then departed at 1230 IST and landed at Bangalore at 1452 hours without any further inconvenience. Some passengers while deplaning were generous enough to say, "Captain, you and your crew took very good care of us and we sincerely appreciate that. The cabin crew must be exhausted, please do take care of them."