Aviation Safety in Focus: Why the AMO Meet Matters

The winter season, which is a period of thick fog, low visibility, and disruption of flights due to weather, has gradually started to set in within the Indian aviation sector. Realizing the recurrence of this problem, the AMO has scheduled a one-day training workshop on “Forecasting Winter Weather Systems with Special Focus on Fog to Enhance Aviation Safety” on December 9, 2025.

The workshop is being organized jointly by the AMO, Nagpur, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, and the regional chapter of India Meteorological Society, thus underlining a cooperative, science-driven approach towards addressing weather-related aviation risks.

By placing this kind of training and forecasting on the agenda, officials hope to better equip India to deal with one of the most enduring aviation hazards: fog. In light of the widespread delays and cancellations of the past several winters, the meet could prove seminal in ensuring safety, less disruption, and greater reliability for Indian air travel.

Fog: A Long standing Headache for Indian Aviation

Fog and low visibility are rather more than mere inconveniences; they constitute a serious safety and operational hazard. Every winter, dense fog has forced many airports in northern and central India to shut down part or all of their operations, causing flight delays and cancellations, missed connections, and financial losses for airlines and passengers.

Indeed, a study cited in the AMO notification points out that fog incidents at major airports have in the past caused losses running into millions of dollars; for instance, one cited figure shows that fog-related delays at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi between 2011 and 2016 resulted in losses of approximately US $3.9 million.

In addition, dense fog does not merely upset schedules; it is a serious safety hazard. Poor visibility makes approaches, landings, and take-offs difficult; incorrectly judged visibility may result in aborted landings or dangerous go-arounds. Ensuring that airports and flight crews are prepared to operate safely even in low visibility conditions is thus critical.

What the AMO Workshop Aims to Achieve

The forthcoming workshop on AMO is not a ‘meet-and-greet’ affair; it is more of a capacity-building exercise to help India better prepare for winter-time weather hazards. The main objectives are as follows:

• Training in fog climatology and detection techniques: Participants will learn how to study regional fog patterns, anticipate likely fog formation, and understand local climatology trends.
• Advanced detection and forecasting tools: The techniques used are runway visual range measurement, ceilometers (for visibility and cloud base measurement), satellite data from instruments including INSAT 3D/3DR, and numerical weather prediction models tailored for fog forecasting.
• Low-visibility operations and landing procedures: The workshop will cover the procedures under CAT II/III, instrument landing in low visibility conditions, protocols for fog conditions, and case studies of disruptions caused by fog in the past to learn from real incidents.
• Improving operational preparedness at all airports: Training staff across the country aims to ensure that not only major hubs but even smaller and regional airports are better prepared to handle fog events.
• These steps together can help in proactive forecasting and reactive response, which, in turn, means that aviation authorities can anticipate hazardous weather, adjust the schedules or operations to avoid those conditions, and maintain safety during otherwise challenging weather.

What this means for passengers, airlines, and airports

• Safer Flights & Fewer Surprises

By having better forecasting and low visibility procedures in place, airlines and airports can further reduce the risk of last-minute cancellations or ‘go-arounds’ — making travel safer and more predictable.

• Better Planning & Less Disruption

If fog can be predicted hours or even days in advance, then airlines and airports could take proactive steps by adjusting flight schedules appropriately, staffing accordingly, having properly equipped crews, and keeping passengers informed. This way, chaos, delays, and passenger inconvenience are reduced to a minimum.

⚠️ Challenges & What Needs to Follow Through

• Implementation matters: A workshop is only as good as its follow-up. Consistent adoption of the forecasting tools and procedures across airports is needed; otherwise, benefits remain theoretical.
• Need for infrastructure upgrades: Equipped runways, e.g., CAT II/III compliant Instrument Landing Systems; trained low visibility crews; visibility sensors – many regional airports may lack these. This is the basic capacity building step that has to be supported through investment in infrastructure.
• Co-ordination across stakeholders: Airlines, air traffic control, meteorological agencies, airport operators – all must coordinate in real time for warnings, decision making and communications. Any weak link can still disrupt operations.
•  Adaptation to Evolving Climate Pattern: Fog is not the only weather hazard as extreme heat, storms, and unpredictable winds, smog are also on the rise. It requires developing a system that will meet multiple hazards, not just traditional fog.

The Bigger Picture: Charting a Safer Future for Indian Skies

• This AMO‑led initiative marks a crucial shift — from reactive firefighting to proactive safety planning in Indian aviation. By recognising weather hazards as systemic risks, and investing in science‑driven forecasting and operational preparedness, authorities are taking meaningful steps toward safer, more reliable air travel.
• Given the recurring winter disruptions and growing passenger traffic, such moves are long overdue. If implemented well — with investments, training and coordination — this could significantly reduce fog‑related disruptions and improve overall operational reliability.
• In a broader sense, this initiative is part of a larger push: regulatory updates from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) encouraging deviation/diversion for adverse weather, emphasis on safety over schedule, airlines preparing for low‑visibility operations, and airports upgrading infrastructure for winter readiness.