Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that all aircraft operating from Pune Airport keep window shades closed during takeoff and landing.
This directive aims to prevent unauthorised photography of sensitive military installations, as Pune Airport shares its premises with the Indian Air Force’s Lohegaon base. The new regulation requires window shades to remain shut until the aircraft ascends beyond 10,000 feet and again during descent below this altitude. Exceptions are made only for emergency exit rows. Airlines are instructed to ensure compliance through pre-flight announcements and crew vigilance. Passengers found violating this rule may face legal consequences under civil aviation laws .
This measure follows incidents where passengers captured and shared images of restricted areas on social media, inadvertently compromising security. The DGCA’s directive is part of a broader initiative to enhance operational safety at defence airports, particularly those near India’s western border . Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara have begun updating their protocols, including staff training and revised safety briefings, to enforce the window shade policy effectively. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also increased surveillance to deter unauthorised photography within airport premises .
The DGCA emphasises that these guidelines are crucial for safeguarding national interests and urges passengers to adhere strictly to the new rules.
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