Kingfisher deploys autoland system to deal with fog

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Friday, December 22, 2006 - Kingfisher Airlines has created a new milestone in Indian Civil Aviation by becoming the first private airline in India to receive certification to operate its flights in poor visibility using sophisticated Autoland Systems in the highest category of operation-Category IIIA. This development marks a significant step forward and is another effort in Kingfisher Airlines' continuous commitment to on-time performance.

Since every single brand new Airbus aircraft in the Kingfisher Airlines fleet is equipped with Autoland Systems capable of executing Category IIIA landings, all Kingfisher Airlines flights operating into and out of fog-affected cities, like New Delhi, are capable of landing and taking off in fog. Consequently, guests flying with Kingfisher Airlines will no longer be at the mercy of fog related disruptions. Delays, rerouting and cancellation of flights due to fog will be greatly decreased for all guests who fly with Kingfisher Airlines.

One of the most critical aspects of commercial aircraft operations is the efficient and timely interspersing of aircraft landings. A key factor in these operations is the ability of aircraft to land, slow down, and taxi off runways. The challenges to efficient operations increase significantly in low visibility conditions. Landing is the most critical moment and requires utmost prudence.

A Category IIIA approach allows aircraft to land with runway visibility as little as 200 m and a Minimum Decision Height of 50 feet using Autoland Systems. Landing categories are broken down by minimum cloud heights also known as the ceiling and the amount of horizontal visibility.

There is an internationally adopted scale of categories which describes the landing guidance system. Category I is the least demanding and Category II & Category III are progressively more demanding in terms of the aircraft avionics, crew training and the quality of ground equipment amongst other things. Planes are typically guided in safely by giving the commander of the aircraft a landing approach flight path and an angle of descent.

Commenting on this new milestone, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman & CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, "All Kingfisher Airlines brand new Airbus aircraft come equipped with Category III Autoland systems as standard equipment. The decision to equip our entire fleet with enhanced avionics and to deploy cutting-edge Flight Management Systems was motivated by our appreciation of the value that our guests place on their time.

All Kingfisher Airlines aircraft can now operate flights to fog prone airports like New Delhi and accomplish low visibility landings, independent of prevailing weather conditions. Given that older generation of aircraft would need expensive upgrades and considering that not all makes of aircraft are technologically capable of being fitted with equipment suitable to execute Category III landings, the recent certification by the DGCA for Kingfisher Airlines to operate flights in Category III A gives our fleet a distinct technological edge.

We are committed to continuous on-time performance using latest technology and well-trained pilots."

Autoland systems allow airplanes to land in poor visibility with far greater accuracy and reliability than is possible with only human control. The Autoland system in the modern jet airliner is a combination of a number of systems. These include autopilot, autothrottles, the flight management system, and instrument landing system.

The airport and its instrument landing system must have special equipment that is rigorously certified by the DGCA in order to permit the aircraft to land under low-visibility conditions. Autoland is a triply-redundant autopilot system that, under the watchful eye of a pilot, automatically lands an airplane.

Landing capability is typically defined on two parameters-Decision Height and Runway Visual Range. Minimum Decision Height is the wheel height above the runway elevation by which a decision must be taken to land or go around. To execute an auto land some basic requirements need to be adhered to by airlines and an overview of these procedures follows.

About Autoland Procedures:

Aircraft manufacturers are required to certify aircraft systems and performance capability for auto land procedures. This includes keeping on board many back-up systems

Airlines are required to establish procedures and practices to maintain and demonstrate continued capability to execute landings as per the certification given. This includes pilot training, engineers training, adjusting the maintenance program to check various aircraft system and components. A strict follow up regimen and accurate record-keeping protocols of Autoland systems are required to be instituted and carried out by various pilots and across different aircraft in the fleet.

-- A minimum level of airport infrastructure is required to be in place for airlines to carryout different categories of operations. This includes independent certification of airport for the category of operation.

-- It is only when all three requirements above are complied with, that the DGCA permits operators to do Auto land operations. This permission is always aircraft wise and pilot wise.

-- Kingfisher Airlines ensures all aircraft do at least one simulated Autoland every month to ensure that aircraft is capable and is current. If due to any reason, that is not possible, Engineers carryout very detailed land capability test and certify.

Definitions of some Categories of Operations:

-- Category II: - A precision instrument approach and landing with decision height (DH) lower than 200 ft but not lower than 100 ft and a runway visual range (RVR) less than 2400 ft but not less than 1200 ft (350m).

-- Category IIIa: - A precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height (DH) lower than 100 ft but not lower than 50 ft and a runway visual range (RVR) not less than 600 ft (200m).

About Kingfisher Airlines:

Kingfisher Airlines is India's first and only private airline to receive the prestigious, 'Best New Airline of the Year' award in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region from Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). Kingfisher Airlines has also been voted as the 3rd Most Successful Brand Launch of the Year 2005, in the annual Brand Derby Survey conducted by India's leading business daily-Business Standard.

In another Survey conducted by agencyfaqs.com and Brand Reporter, Kingfisher was voted as the 7th Buzziest Brand of 2005 amongst 2000 leading national and international brands. More recently, Kingfisher Airlines has bagged the "Service Excellence for a New Airline" award from Skytrax, a UK based specialist global air transport advisor.

Another addition to the list of laurels is the "Best New Domestic Airline for Excellent Services and Cuisine" award from Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), the biggest travel writers' organization, across the globe, that conducts independent annual surveys across various industries related with Travel and Tourism in order to select the best in each category. In a survey conducted by IMB for Times of India, 46% of the participants voted Kingfisher Airlines 'The Best Airline" and "India's Favourite Carrier". Lastly Kingfisher Airlines won the "Brand Leadership Award" in the service and hospitality segment against several acclaimed hotels, leading banks and other airlines. Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations on May 9, 2005 with a brand new fleet of aircraft.

Kingfisher Airlines offers Full Service at True Value and promises an unparalleled experience to the Indian air traveler. On offer are extra-wide seats and spacious leg room, delicious gourmet meals, international-class cabin crew and a whole host of comforts and delights. Kingfisher Airlines also facilitates doorstep delivery of tickets on guest request. Kingfisher Airlines has further raised the bar by introducing the Indian business traveler to a premium product- Kingfisher First, the finest experience in the Indian skies. For more information on Kingfisher Airlines log on to www.flykingfisher.com . Fly the Good Times with Kingfisher Airlines.