Cesar Arellano Garcia
Newspaper La Jornada
Friday, May 6, 2022, p. eleven
The International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (Ifalpa, for its acronym in English) pointed out that in the past month it was aware of several incidents involving aircraft that arrived at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) with fuel shortages, due to unplanned waiting to land, as well as diversions due to excessive delays.
Likewise, it expressed concern about the significant alerts from the Ground Proximity Warning System, in one of which a crew almost collided with the surface.
According to the Flightaware flight tracking portal, up to 380 operations with delays per day have been registered at the capital’s airport.
Ifalpa recalled that the AICM was declared lacking in capacity in 2014 and the Santa Lucía military air base became a mixed civil-military space for simultaneous operations between the capital’s air terminal and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport, which was inaugurated on last March 21.
It would seem that, with the opening of this newly converted airport, Air Traffic Control apparently received little training and support on how to operate this new configuration in the airspace.
highlighted the group.
He added that crews have received clearances that do not meet the restrictions to avoid ground impact on the standard terminal arrival route. Besides, proper International Civil Aviation Organization phraseology is not used, adding to confusion about altitude restrictions
.
Ifalpa recommended that crews consider carrying additional fuel to prepare them for a long wait and possible diversions.
Separately, the Trade Union Association of Aviator Pilots of Mexico requested a meeting with Mexican aeronautical authorities and the Services for Navigation in the Mexican Air Space, to jointly address the problem of the air terminal.
