Incorrect Reporting by Mumbai Mirror News Paper on 03 Nov 16

Incorrect Reporting by Mumbai Mirror News Paper on 03 Nov 16

AAI approval letter with correct time zone

Article by Mumbai Mirror newspaper on 03 November 2015 has incorrectly reported that there was a “near miss” on account of misunderstanding between the Indian Navy and Air Traffic Control at Mumbai.

NOTAM with correct time reference page

The Newspaper report stated that the Indian Navy had sought a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) without specifying the timing as in Indian Standard Time (IST) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  It is hereby clarified that the correspondence between Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India (AAI) (which is the issuing authority for all NOTAMs in this region) was categorically specified in IST (Time Zone E/F).  The AAI thereafter promulgates the NOTAM in GMT, which was also correctly done. The copies of relevant communication between the Indian Navy and AAI are attached for your reference.
 

Indian Navy letter requesting for issue of NOTAM with time zone mentioned Page2

The firing by the Naval ships on 31 October 2015 was undertaken at about 2000 hrs (IST) which is in well within the timings promulgated in the NOTAM which was 1230 -1530 Hrs GMT (1800-2100 Hrs IST).  Therefore, there was no Near Miss situation as was incorrectly reported by Mumbai Mirror.
 
The Mumbai Mirror report is grossly erroneous, not based on facts and has created unnecessary and avoidable confusion.  Such irresponsible reporting is damaging to the reputation of the Indian Navy.