New Delhi: Exactly two months after Malaysia Airlines’ aircraft (MH 370) went missing, India has made it mandatory for all its planes to be tracked from departure to arrival. The directorate general of civil aviation’s (DGCA) new rule is applicable to both for passenger and cargo aircraft “in view of the difficulties faced in search and rescue operations after an aircraft goes missing or meets with an accident”. “Air transport operators have now been asked to use onboard aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) /automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) for this purpose and they have to ensure their serviceability before every departure. Operators have also been advised to devise a procedure for effective tracking of the aircraft while flying over areas where there is no coverage of ACARS/ADS-B,” a statement issued by DGCA said.
