New DGCA rules on contagious diseases

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA has issued an operations circular that will make it necessary for pilots of all commercial or private aircraft to immediately inform Air Traffic Control (ATC) about persons with suspected communicable diseases on board. The DGCA said this would be done to “facilitate provision of medical equipment and personnel for the management of public health risk on arrival of aircraft”.

“A communicable disease could be suspected if a person on board has a fever that is associated with certain symptoms — appearing obviously unwell, persistent coughing, impaired breathing, persistent diarrhoea, persistent vomiting, skin rash, bruising or bleeding without previous history or confusion of recent onset,” the DGCA said.

“All operators engaged in commercial/ private operations are required to establish procedures to promptly report a suspected communicable disease to ATC.” The pilot in command of an aircraft must promptly report a suspected communicable disease to ATC, the DGCA said.

“Transmission to ATC must contain the following information but not limited to- — aircraft identification, departure aerodrome, destination aerodrome, estimated time of arrival and number of suspected case(s) onboard,” the DGCA said.