BRICS Summit: 35 special aircraft to land in Delhi
What's the story
The BRICS Summit in Delhi has led to an elaborate aviation operation involving 35 special aircraft. The operation includes multiple airports, controlled airspace, and carefully timed movements to ensure the smooth transit of foreign dignitaries. The Indira Gandhi International Airport and the Indian Air Force's Palam technical area are key hubs for this operation. Various security agencies, including CISF, Air Force, aviation authorities, and airport operators, are coordinating these movements.
Security protocols
VVIP movements
According to The Hindu, regular passengers at the airport follow standard procedures, while VVIP movements are kept separate.
Senior visitors such as ministers use ceremonial facilities, while top-level visitors are handled through Palam's technical area.
This facility allows VVIP aircraft to bypass regular passenger-terminal operations.
A senior CISF official said, "Multiple exits and vehicles are kept ready," adding that the final exit for VVIP movement is decided toward the last stage to keep routes unpredictable.
Airspace control
Airspace regulation
During normal VVIP movements in major cities, airspace is regulated for three to four minutes. However, with multiple foreign leaders arriving for the summit, these windows have been extended and coordinated extensively.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also restricted non-scheduled flight operations within 300km of Delhi from September 11-13.
Scheduled commercial flights are exempted from this restriction, while special flights carrying BRICS dignitaries can operate with prior approval.
Aircraft management
Aircraft parking and flying restrictions
Special aircraft are parked at Palam, Delhi Airport, Noida International Airport, Safdarjung Airport, Hindon Airport, and two other airports.
The aircraft will arrive in different configurations, with most countries expected to bring one dedicated aircraft.
Security operations extend to ground handling, where additional checks are carried out on aviation fuel samples supplied to an aircraft.
Flying activities involving light/micro-light aircraft and UAVs have been restricted within a 300km radius of Delhi during the summit.
Operational coordination
Security measures in place
CISF personnel operate under the aviation-security framework laid down by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
The Air Force manages technical-area operations while other agencies handle diplomatic, intelligence, traffic, and road-security aspects of VVIP movements.
This results in a carefully separated system where dedicated aircraft can be received, parked, and moved under enhanced security without disrupting routine commercial aviation.