Sir - It is beyond comprehension to understand how the Indian Government and, more importantly, its air-traffic-control (ATC) services can deny responsibility for the 12 November, 1996, mid-air collision between a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747-100B and an Air Kazakhstan Ilyushin Il-76 at New Delhi.
Surely the 1,000ft (300m) separation rule is aimed at aircraft which are straight and level, and stable in that configuration. I am sure that it was never intended that aircraft should be on conflicting headings - one climbing, and one descending.
Adding together the height of the two aircraft, the two level limits and the altimeter-accuracy allowance, one wonders how the aircraft could possibly not crash into each other.
The Indian Government should change its views. If it does not, then we will be reading about a similar accident in the not-too-distant future.
MIKE BOND
Manchester, UK
Source: Flight International
