AIR SAFETY CIRCULAR NO.9 OF 1993

Subject : Precautions to be taken to avoid landing at wrong airfields.

In the recent past there has been a spurt of cases wherein the aircraft have either landed or have made an approach to satellite airfields located in the close proximity of the intended aerodrome of landing. Recently a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by an Air Taxi operator landed at Sulur airport instead of Coimbatore airport.

There are other airports also which have satellite airfields located in close proximity and are vulnerable for wrong landings e.g. Hyderabad/Hakimpet, Madras/Tambaram. Bombay/Juhu, Delhi/Safdarjung, Guwahati/Shillong, Jammu/Udampur, etc. In order to avoid such landing/approaches to wrong airfields, it has been decided that following safety measures should be taken by the operators:-

1. The pilots approaching such airfields should adhere to the caution given by Air Traffic Controllers or in the ATIS broadcast to ensure that they are approaching the correct airfield.
2. Air Traffic controllers would give `Landing Clearance' to the aircraft only after sighting the aircraft on the finals making visual approach.
3. NAA has been advised that IAL charts of these airports contain a suitable note of caution about the satellite airfields.
4. The operator shall ensure that their pilots while operating to such airports are briefed prior to operating the flight about the satellite airfields and correct identification of the destination airport.

All pilots should be informed about the above safety measures for compliance.