New Delhi: Civil Aviation Regulator DGCA has asked the pilot in command of a flight to promptly inform the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) in case anyone onboard has suspected communicable disease.

In a circular, Director General of Civil Aviation has said the requirement is being put in place to facilitate provision of medical equipment and personnel for the management of public health risk on arrival of aircraft.

It asked all commercial as well as private plane operators to to promptly report a suspected communicable disease to the ATC. A communicable disease could be suspected if a person on board has a fever that is associated with certain symptoms like appearing obviously unwell, persistent coughing, impaired breathing and persistent vomiting. 

All operators have been asked to make provisions in their operations manual in this regard by the end of December this year or during the next revision, which is earlier.