Operations at La Aurora International Airport (AILA) were irregular for several hours on Monday, January 16, due to weather conditions that occurred since early morning. Some 30 flights entering and leaving the country would have delayed their itineraries.
From this account, the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) activated a green alert, which empowered airlines to operate at their discretion. For several hours little or no visibility was reported at the air terminal due to fog.
The DGAC explained that this type of alert means that operations remain open for aircraft that fly by instruments.
Flying with instruments means that the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft use radars and satellites, among other special devices, with which they are equipped, which serve to be piloted without human visibility.
Given these climatic cases, it is at the discretion of each airline to land, take off or divert the aircraft to an alternate airport, detailed the entity that controls air traffic.
It was also detailed that Avianca and American Airlines planes were not allowed to depart, both flights had to wait until the weather conditions improved.
OPEN TRAFFIC
The Guatemalan Airlines Association (AGLA) told La Hora that irregular operations persisted for several hours, and it was not until 8:30 a.m. when the control tower reported that AILA was being opened so that aircraft certified under instrument flight rules
From this account, the commercial and non-commercial airlines that have the aforementioned certification will have the possibility of disposing if they carry out the flights or if they continue waiting.
In that sense, commercial airlines take this very seriously for security reasons. While it is unknown if non-commercial flights have the aforementioned certification.
DGAC reports that due to weather conditions, two planes were not allowed to leave. The condition is expected to improve at the location.
📸: DGAC pic.twitter.com/ZiMMZOw5Zl
– La Hora newspaper (@lahoragt) January 16, 2023
FLIGHTS
According to the AGLA, for the moment the Delta airline flight from Los Angeles, in the United States, diverted to El Salvador due to fog, and is waiting for conditions to improve to return to Guatemala.
Likewise, TAG Airlines flights are delayed, also waiting for the improvement of conditions. In addition, it was indicated that a Volaris flight from the Los Angeles airport diverted to El Salvador.
According to the AGLA, two planes bound for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Miami International Airport, respectively, are also on standby for departure.
WEATHER IS A CHALLENGE
The Association highlighted that the fog that prevents the visibility of the pilots is one of the natural challenges that the AILA faces at this and other times of the year.
