CAA miffed at drones near Islamabad airport

Following incidents of drone flights and laser beams on the planes landing in and around the funnel zone of the New Islamabad International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has requested the Rawalpindi Commissioner and Regional Police Officer to impose a ban on flying drones and laser lights in the airport's funnel area and surrounding areas by enforcing Section 144.

Expressing concern over the flights of drones in sensitive areas, the CAA has demanded that the patrolling and combing operations should be increased and law violators should be detected and strict action should be taken against them to ensure the safety of passenger planes and air traffic.

The presence of a drone in the air was reported by the pilot of the United Nations plane travelling to Islamabad from Kabul when he was in the landing position.

Realising the seriousness of the situation, Rawalpindi RPO Nasir Mahmood Satti and CPO Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari appointed DSP-level officers as focal persons at the regional and district levels.

According to sources, earlier incidents of laser beams frequently occurred in the area around the New Islamabad International Airport, especially the funnel zone, where the planes are closer to the ground due to the landing and take-off position, but lately, the presence of drones in the air has sounded the alarm.

It has been learned that CAA Chief Operating Officer, Aftab Gilani, has once again sent a letter to Commissioner Saqib Manan and RPO Nasir Mahmood Satti regarding the incidents of laser lights and drones, stating therein that the incidents of laser lights and drones during flight operations were extremely dangerous for flight safety.

“Laser lights before landing and after take-off can be very dangerous to the pilot's eyes and focus on flight,” it said.

“Similarly, the presence of drones in the air is not only dangerous for the planes, but in case of a collision, a dangerous accident can also happen and if the drones are equipped with surveillance equipment or any electronic and explosive device, then it is very dangerous for the air traffic from the security point of view,” it added.

The CAA and the Islamabad airport administration are drawing the attention of the police authorities and security-related institutions very attentively when such incidents of laser beams surface, sources said. Now, during the landing positions of the planes, the presence of drones in the air has also been marked in the same areas, they added.

According to sources, the latest incident was reported on January 16 during the landing of the United Nations plane at the Islamabad airport.

It was reported that on January 16, at 0230 hours, the UN aircraft B-190 was flying from Kabul to Islamabad airport at an altitude of 3700 feet.

When the aircraft was at a distance of 8.2 nautical miles from runway 28L, a drone was found flying at a height of about 3400 feet in the airspace of Phase V-III of a private housing society near GT Road, Swan.

Although these incidents were happening outside the airport limits but close to the funnel zone. Therefore, there is a strong need for the district and civil administration police to pay full attention to the issue, the communique read.

It has been further stated in the letter that patrolling and combing operations should be increased in the said areas to prevent such incidents and to ensure the safety of air traffic and aircraft and such elements should be dealt with strictly.

It has been learned that in light of the indications and recommendations from the CAA, the Rawalpindi commissioner has directed the deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi and Attock to take immediate steps by coordinating with the airport authorities.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi RPO and the CPO have directed the focal persons to remain in coordination with the airport administration to increase the patrolling and combing operations of the police in the funnel zone and the surrounding areas of the airport.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2023.