Runway Confusion and Aviation Safety Concerns in India

Recent Incident and Historical Context

The Air India incident at Goa’s Mopa airport on December 5, 2024, highlights persistent issues of runway confusion in Indian aviation. The Hyderabad-bound aircraft mistakenly entered a parallel taxiway instead of the main runway, a recurring issue in India’s aviation history.

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): Often attributes these incidents to pilot error but fails to implement corrective measures.
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Requires member states to investigate and prevent aviation incidents, a mandate inadequately met by India.

Notable Historical Incidents

• 1993: Jet Airways landed at Sulur air base instead of Peelamedu airport.
• 2002: Jet Airways landed on the taxi track in Goa's Dabolim airport.
• 2018: Air India aircraft landed on an under-construction runway in the Maldives.
• 2020: Spicejet had a hard touchdown short of the runway in Guwahati.

Despite the potential for serious consequences, none of these incidents resulted in fatalities.

Systemic Failures and Comparisons

The failure to prevent recurrences of runway confusion is attributed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, and airlines.

• Singapore Airlines' response to a 2000 crash exemplifies successful corrective action, contrasting with India's inadequate measures.

Runway Overrun Accidents

Since 2005, multiple incidents of high and fast approach have resulted in runway overruns.

• 2005: Air Sahara experienced serious damage after overrunning the runway in Mumbai.
• 2019: Spicejet aircraft overran the runway in Mumbai.
• 179 lives lost in Mangaluru and Kozhikode crashes due to overruns.

Blame often falls on pilots rather than training deficiencies or regulatory failures.

Training and Safety Standards

India has inadequate training and safety standards, compounded by regulatory oversights.

• Pilots often face pressure to violate flight time limits and prioritize "on time performance" (OTP).
• In accidents like Kozhikode, "press-on-it-is" mentality resulted in ignoring co-pilot inputs.

Judicial and Regulatory Challenges

Recent deferment of flight and duty time limits due to airline pressure poses a significant safety risk.

• A High Court decision asking DGCA to negotiate highlights judicial misunderstandings of aviation safety issues.

Security Situation in Jammu and Kashmir

Overall Analysis

The security dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir have seen a notable difference in militant activities and security force responses between the Jammu region and Kashmir Valley. Jammu region experienced more intense militant activities across all its 10 districts compared to the Kashmir Valley.

Casualties and Operations

• Jammu Region:
  • 18 security personnel were killed compared to 13 militants in approximately 30 engagements.
  • Militants have been setting up bases in areas like the Pir Panjal valley since 2020.
  • Expanded operations into forest ridges of Kathua, Reasi, Doda, and Kishtwar using non-motorable passes.
• Kashmir Valley:
  • 55 militants were killed, with 10 security personnel casualties.

Changes in Militant Tactics

Militants have adapted their tactics, utilizing forest cover and difficult terrain for survival, and enhancing their training levels.

Civilian Casualties

• 16 civilians were killed in Kashmir and 14 in Jammu.
• Notably, nine pilgrims were killed in Reasi on June 9.

Significant Militant Attacks

• Post External Affairs Minister's Pakistan visit, attacks increased in Srinagar.
• Major attack on a tunnel project in Ganderbal on October 20, resulting in seven deaths.
• Lashkar-e-Taiba's Junaid Ahmad Bhat, responsible for Ganderbal attack, was killed in December.

Government Response and Actions

• A special unit of the National Security Guard (NSG) stationed in Jammu for the first time.
• 14 houses of militants attached, and 168 locals arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• Jammu region sees the first booking of two women under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for militant support.
• Properties of 11 absconding terrorists attached, with 29 identified for future action under UAPA.

ISRO's 2024 Space Missions Overview

PSLV-C59 Mission

The PSLV-C59 mission launched the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit. The mission demonstrated the ability of ISRO's PSLV to launch a spacecraft into complex orbits. The launch took place from Satish Dhawan Space Center on December 5, 2024.

Gaganyaan Mission Preparations

ISRO has begun assembling the human-rated LVM-3 (HLVM-3) for its first uncrewed mission, marking a significant milestone for the Gaganyaan mission, India's human spaceflight initiative. This follows earlier successful tests of reentry characteristics using the Crew-module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE).

PSLV-C60 Mission

• The PSLV-C60 mission is set to launch on December 30, 2024, carrying satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target).
• These satellites will demonstrate in-orbit docking, leading to ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
• The mission will also carry 20-plus payloads from various ISRO centers, academia, and Indian private companies.

PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4)

POEM-4 will carry 24 payloads, including the 'Walking Robotic Arm' and the Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator, to demonstrate advanced technologies in space.

Biological and Communication Experiments

• The Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space (APEMS) will study plant growth in microgravity.
• RVSat-1 will measure the growth of the gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in space.
• Communication payloads like BGS ARPIT and Swetchasat will test amateur radio and UHF communication capabilities.

Propulsion and Imaging Payloads

• RUDRA 1.0 and VYOM 2U will test new propulsion systems.
• SAR Imaging Demonstration Payloads GLX-SQ and Varuna will explore synthetic aperture radar capabilities.

Upcoming in 2025

The year 2025 is expected to be pivotal, featuring the first uncrewed HLVM-3 missions, a potential Indian astronaut on the ISS, and the NASA-ISRO SAR mission.