Ministry of Civil Aviation Goes All Guns Blazing in Fight Against COVID-19 WHO Recommendations Were Issued
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Issue 12 • Jan.-Mar., 2020 (Q4) Ministry of Civil Aviation goes all guns blazing in fight against COVID-19 WHO recommendations were issued. It list of the sectors most directly exposed as a included regular meetings of Secy, MoCA vector in spreading the disease. with all airlines, airport operators, DGCA Close maneuvering and advance planning and BCAS for enhancing universal screening through online meetings and virtual war room of arriving passengers & disinfecting of were carried out by MoCA to optimally utilise aircraft and airport premises ensuring safety demand and supply. Under the Lifeline UDAN of ground staff and security personnel. initiative of MoCA, 403 flights covering over Civil Aviation secretary and AAI chairman 3,97,632 kms of aerial distance transported also held review meetings with regard to around 748 tons of medical and essential Soon after several positive cases of COVID-19 quarantine of passengers coming from seven cargo across India over one month since the were reported all over the country with the nations – China, Italy, Iran, Republic of lockdown started. Daily updates on Lifeline onset of March, most of which were linked Korea, France, Spain & Germany in mid- UDAN portal enabled stakeholders to plan and to people with a travel history to affected March and conducted video conferences with track domestic essential air cargo movement. countries, a high-level meeting of Union all Airport Directors to work closely with Ministry of Civil Aviation on March 3, 2020 state governments, including relevant district The MoCA deployed all its required strength reviewed the preparedness to prevent the in the battle against the deadly pandemic administration officials to rapidly implement which has created an insurmountable growth spread of coronavirus. Consequently, all opening of proper screening, testing, isolation barrier in the global aviation sector. By many airports and airlines were duly advised to and quarantine facilities in all major airports. accounts, the COVID-19 impact has moved comply with the travel advisory issued for The MoCA coordinated with the MEA for at a speed faster than anyone in business and passengers by the Bureau of Immigration facilitating faster evacuation of Indians and government can keep up with. The fall-out (BOI), and strictly comply with the latest other nationals stranded in foreign countries. from the pandemic is now not only set to result instructions issued by the Union Ministry of It acted swiftly in tightening travel restrictions in a prolonged period of recession, but, may Health and Family Welfare regarding universal and total halting of flights to hot zones like bring about tumultuous changes in sectors screening of passengers to meet exigencies. Italy, South Korea, Iran and China long before such as aviation. However, the brave efforts While addressing the media on March 6, total suspension of international and domestic of corona warriors, including the aviation 2020, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, HMCA stated flights was declared on March 22 and March personnel, to contain the pandemic would that adequate measures against coronavirus 24, 2020 respectively, thereby demonstrating always be remembered by the countrymen in were taken by Indian authorities even before immense responsibility as air travel tops the the times to come. Wings India 2020 held with fanfare followed by announcement of MoCA Swachhata Awards 2019 The Airports Authority of India participated Shri I.N. Murthy, Member (Operations), and prize with Chandigarh and Trivandrum securing in Asia’s largest Civil Aviation event, ‘Wings various other senior officials of AAI. The AAI second and third place respectively in the category India 2020’ held from 12th to 15th March, stall featured an ATC Tower with simulators, of the airports between 1.5 million & 5 million. 2020 at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad through offering the feel of ATCO work station which Udaipur, Vadodara and Vijayawada airports a pavilion exhibiting latest technologies and became the centre of attraction for visitors. grabbed the first, second and third position in the infrastructure developments. Jointly organized Later in the evening, MoCA Swachhata Awards third category of airports with annual passenger by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI and 2019 conducted by the Quality Council of India traffic between 1 million & 1.5 million. FICCI, the international event witnessed (QCI) surveying clean and safe airports on participation from foreign delegates, global various parameters and in different categories The awards were presented to respective CEOs, top leaders and the media. were also announced. While the Kolkata Airport Directors by Shri K.T Rama Rao, Airport was declared the Cleanest Airport in Hon`ble Minister for Industries & Commerce, Shri Arvind Singh, Chairman, AAI inaugurated the category of airports with annual passenger Government of Telangana in presence of the AAI stall on March 13, 2020 in presence traffic of 5 million & above followed by Chennai Chairman, AAI and Smt. Usha Padhee, Joint of Shri Anuj Aggarwal, Member (HR), and Jaipur, the Madurai Airport bagged the first Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. 1 AAI celebrates 71st Republic Course Development International Civil Aviation Organization Day across all airports This is to certify that Unit, CATC emerges as a Vikram Kapur has successfully completed the qualification programme and is a and establishments with ICAO Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Validator training platform for Air Valid from: 13 February 2020 Diego Martinez Until: 28 February 2023 patriotic fervour Chief Navigation Services (VAL-ISD-2020-032) Global Aviation Training The Course Development Unit (CDU) team already included in ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS at Civil Aviation Training College (CATC) library. achieved a new milestone when Shri Vikram Kapur, GM (ATM) was adjudged India’s The success of the team comprising first ICAO certified Instructional Systems Shri Vikram Kapur, Shri Manoj Chansoria, Design (ISD) Validator on February 13, Shri Ajaya Kumar Pathak and Shri Anami 2020. With this achievement, AAI would Pandey first saw the light in 2013 with the save huge amount of foreign currency earlier four team members successfully qualifying spent in getting validation services from other India’s first ICAO Qualified Course countries. In a prelude to this achievement, Developer (IQCD), thereby, making a dent another team member, Shri Ajaya Kumar for CATC, Allahabad in getting membership Pathak, JGM (ATM) had become India’s of ICAO’s TRAINAIR PLUS Full first ICAO qualified Instructor for Training Member, the very same year. Since then, Developer Course (TDC) in the year 2016. Shri Ajaya Kumar Pathak and Shri Vikram Kapur have facilitated various other training Since its inception in 1993, the CDU at centres of AAI in getting full membership CATC has so far developed six Standardized of ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS. Training Packages (STPs) consistent with the ICAO mission of maintaining high standards In the near future, the emergence of CDU, of training and competency of aviation CATC as a Regional Training Centre for Air personnel through TRAINAIR PLUS training Navigation Services (ANS) is in the offing The Airports Authority of India (AAI) methodology. Established on a world-wide considering the great strides the team has celebrated the nation’s 71st Republic Day basis in a cost-effective manner, these STPs are made in the field of learning and development. with great enthusiasm and zeal at all regions and airports. Observing the Day, Shri Arvind AAI airports host workshops on CNS simulation studies Singh, in his first stint as Chairman, AAI The ever-growing increase in air traffic necessitates corresponding enhancement in infrastructure. hoisted the national flag which was followed In order to plan the new infra and its impact on Communication, Navigation and Surveillance by the rendition of the national anthem (CNS) facilities in ‘land-constraint’ airports, a need was felt to conduct a two-day workshop at the Delhi Air Traffic Services (DATS) ‘CNS Facilities - Impact assessment through Simulation Studies’ in all major airports to apprise Complex, IGI Airport, New Delhi. A joint stakeholders entirely about CNS simulation studies. team consisting of contingents from Airport Accordingly, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd workshops of the series were conducted at CHQ, Bengaluru & Fire Services and CISF personnel gave the Guwahati in November 2019, January and February 2020, respectively. The workshops attended customary salute and guard of honour. by officers from CNS, Air Traffic Management (ATM), Airport Operations, Engineering, as well as various other stakeholders and airport operators received an enthusiastic response. Shri Singh welcomed all present on the During the workshop, presentations on a broad range of topics including ‘Regulatory Framework day and thanked them for making the day and Simulation Study Fees, Introduction of Simulation Study, Role of Airport operator, Case memorable. He also thanked everyone for Studies, NOCAS and live demo of CNS Simulator” were made by faculty from CNS-O&M their support in the progress achieved by Directorate. Several queries were also raised by participants and the same were addressed the organization showing special gratitude by respective experts. During the open discussion, valuable inputs were also put forward for to the CISF for their immense effort and inclusion in the simulation studies and presentations in future workshops. support in providing security and managing This