Pilots should inform the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about any flier suspected to have communicable disease to facilitateprovision of medical equipment and personnel for the management of public health risk on the arrival of an aircraft.
This direction comes from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in its latest Operations Circular.
The DGCA has asked all scheduled and non-scheduled operators to include this in their operations manual by December 31 or in its next revision, whichever is earlier.
According to the circular, all operators engaged in commercial or private operations are required to establish procedures to promptly report a suspected communicable disease to the ATC.
These procedures must be included in the operations manual for guidance of the operational personnel.
In addition, health-related legal requirements of countries of departure and/or destination must be followed.
“A communicable disease could be suspected if a person on board has a fever that is associated with certain symptoms, such as appearing obviously unwell, persistent coughing, impaired breathing, persistent diarrhoea, persistent vomiting, skin rashes, bruising or bleeding without previous history or confusion of recent onset,” the circular said.
The DGCA action follows a directive from the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Published 06 August 2017, 19:41 IST