China tells pilots to improve landing skills to deal with Beijing smog

Residents wearing face masks use their mobile phones on a pedestrian overpass on a hazy day at the Pudong financial area in Shanghai, December 6, 2013. REUTERS/Aly Song

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese authorities have told pilots who fly to Beijing they must be qualified to land their aircraft in the low visibility brought about by smog, state media said on Thursday, as the government tries to reduce flight delays due to pollution.

Beginning January 1, pilots flying from the country's 10 busiest airports into the Chinese capital must be qualified to use an instrument landing system on days when smog reduces visibility to around 400 metres (1,315 feet), the official China Daily said, citing China's civil aviation regulator.