RVSM, reduced vertical separation minima, was introduced globally to maintain safety standards in the face of air traffic congestion. India was late in adopting RVSM. But when it did, about four years back, it had started experiencing the first stages of an air travel boom. Air traffic congestion was becoming an incipient reality. The days of a few Indian Airlines planes mostly carrying government officials around were already history. Since then low-cost carriers and general competition-related pressure on ticket prices have changed the profile of civil aviation in India. But as the sky got crowded with the aam aadmi flying like never before, it was still thought that according ‘special status’ to VVIP planes would be enough. Naturally, a clause was introduced to make an exception for VVIP aircraft. Clauses, however, can’t always hold back progress. VVIP arrangements have to keep pace with citizens’ economic empowerment, this is a basic lesson from a fast-growing democracy. It is about time the IAF and everyone else concerned with VVIP travel learnt it.

To begin with, IAF special planes should be upgraded to being RVSM compliant. Second, a close scrutiny of VVIP travel facilities should be undertaken. Embrears were acquired some time back. But these planes are unsuitable for large VVIP entourages. Plus, prime-ministerial travel arrangements can do with an upgrade. There’s absolutely no reason why India’s leaders shouldn’t be travelling better — India’s citizens are.