LAHORE: Two PIA flights — one arriving from Kuwait and the other from Kuala Lumpur — could not land at the Lahore airport on Monday because of fog.

The flights had to be diverted to the Sialkot airport.

The latest anti-fog system — Instrument Landing System (ILS) CAT III-B — installed at the Allama Iqbal International Airport recently, was unable to help because, according to officials, pilots of the two aircraft were not `trained’ to use the modern technology.

Also read: Airliners told to bring pilots trained in anti-fog system

Last week also, two flights of foreign airlines were diverted because of fog.

A PIA spokesman said that all the pilots of the airline flying Boeing 777 had been trained for the new anti-fog system as the simulator used for training was available in Pakistan.

“The A-320 pilots have to be sent aboard for training. They are being sent in turn and soon all pilots will get ILS CAT III-B training. Therefore, after some time flight diversions due to this (fog) factor will be reduced,” the spokesman said.

The Civil Aviation Authority has written to local and foreign airlines recently, asking them to bring in trained pilots who could utilise the latest system.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2015