New Delhi: Government on February 18 said the training of Indian pilots with the latest category III operations to overcome visibility problems has been held up due to delay in arrival of experts from Boeing and Airbus companies.

"When even a husband and wife are not able to see each other while taking a walk on a foggy morning and have to speak to locate each other, how can an aircraft take off in the dense fog?" Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told the Rajya Sabha amidst laughter.

He said all the major carriers had registered losses due to delays and cancellations because of foggy weather.

While Air India had lost Rs 4.8 crore, the Indian Airlines Rs 3.3 crore, Jet Airways Rs 1.4 crore and Sahara Rs 1.3 crore.

Asserting that Delhi airport was fully safe for landing, the Minister said under dense foggy conditions no instruments could give full satisfactory results.

He said the existing system is quite effective and many airlines have utilised it during fog and poor visibility conditions.

PTI