The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive requiring all commercial airlines, charter operators, and private jet operators to ensure that aircraft window shades remain closed during take-off and landing at defence airfields. This measure applies to all passenger windows, except those at emergency exits, and is specifically targeted at operations from defence airports, particularly those near India’s western border.
The DGCA’s order comes in the wake of recent security incidents, including the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. Following these events, several airports in northern, central, and western India, including sensitive defence airbases with civil enclaves such as Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Gwalior, and Hindon, were temporarily closed. As operations resume, the DGCA has introduced these new protocols to enhance operational safety and prevent the unintentional sharing of sensitive security-related information by passengers or crew.
Under the new guidelines, window shades must remain closed during the take-off and landing phases at defence airfields. Specifically, shades should stay shut until the aircraft is airborne and has crossed an altitude of 10,000 feet during departure, and during arrival, from when the aircraft descends below 10,000 feet until it reaches the parking bay at the civil terminal. The only exception is for emergency exit windows, where shades may remain open.
The DGCA has emphasised strict compliance with this directive, warning that violations will attract legal action. The move is intended to prevent the possibility of sensitive military information being inadvertently photographed or observed during critical flight phases.
This directive aligns with similar security measures implemented in other countries where dual-use military and civil airports are present. The focus remains on safeguarding national security interests while maintaining the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations at defence airfields.
