As haze continues to affect parts of Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, aviation operations provide an important reminder that poor air quality and reduced visibility do not automatically mean aircraft must stop flying.
MY AVIATION | AVIATION SAFETY & OPERATIONS
Malaysia’s latest haze episode has again placed visibility in the spotlight, particularly across Sarawak where several locations are experiencing unhealthy or very unhealthy air quality.
At 8am on 24 September, Serian recorded an Air Pollutant Index reading of 218, classified as very unhealthy. Kuching recorded 195, Samarahan 188, Bintulu 170 and Sri Aman 168.
Yet Malaysia’s aviation system continues to operate.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia confirmed on Thursday that no Malaysian flights had been affected or cancelled by the haze so far this year, while aviation authorities and airlines continue monitoring visibility conditions.
That apparent contrast raises an interesting aviation question.
How can aircraft continue operating when the landscape outside may appear covered in haze?
Visibility, Not Simply the Colour of the Sky
For aviation, the presence of haze by itself does not automatically determine whether an aircraft can take off or land.
What matters operationally is whether conditions remain within the applicable limits for the airport, aircraft, crew and type of approach being conducted.
Modern airline operations also do not depend solely on a pilot visually identifying the runway from many kilometres away. Instrument procedures and aircraft navigation systems allow crews to conduct approaches in reduced visibility, subject to the appropriate operational requirements and minima.
This is why an airport surrounded by visibly hazy conditions can remain operational.
CAAM’s aeronautical framework includes specific approvals for Low Visibility Operations, while Malaysia’s Aeronautical Information Publication provides the aeronautical information required for flight operations.
When Haze Becomes an Aviation Problem
There is nevertheless a point at which deteriorating visibility can begin affecting operations.
Earlier this month, the operational impact was already evident in East Malaysia. On 4 September, AirAsia warned that some flights could face cancellation because of reduced visibility associated with haze across parts of East Malaysia and West Kalimantan.
At Kuching International Airport earlier in September, operations remained largely unaffected while visibility stayed above the relevant minimum, although two AirBorneo flights were reported cancelled.
The distinction is important.
Haze does not automatically close an airport. Conditions must be assessed operationally.
If visibility deteriorates sufficiently, individual flights can be delayed, diverted or cancelled depending on the circumstances. Different aircraft, operators, crews and airports may also have different operational capabilities.
Pilots Are Not Making the Decision Alone
A flight operating through hazy conditions is therefore not simply a case of a pilot deciding that visibility “looks good enough.”
Air traffic control, airport observations, meteorological information, airline operational control, aircraft capability, crew qualifications and established procedures all contribute to the decision-making process.
CAAM’s NOTAM system also communicates operationally significant changes or hazards whose timely knowledge is essential to flight operations.
The result is a layered aviation system designed to manage changing conditions rather than automatically stopping operations whenever visibility begins deteriorating.
Sarawak Remains the Area to Watch
The situation nevertheless requires continued monitoring.
MetMalaysia said that a high number of hotspots remained in Kalimantan and that prevailing conditions could contribute to haze and low visibility in western Sarawak during the current forecast period.
With Serian already recording very unhealthy air quality and several other Sarawak locations remaining in the unhealthy category, conditions can change.
For aviation, therefore, today’s uninterrupted operations should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every flight will continue normally if visibility deteriorates.
It demonstrates something different.
Modern aviation is designed to operate safely across a wide range of weather and visibility conditions, but always within defined operational limits.
The haze may obscure Malaysia’s skies. Whether an aircraft flies, however, is ultimately determined not by how dramatic the sky appears from the ground, but by measured conditions, aircraft capability, established procedures and operational safety requirements.
My Aviation | Aviation Safety & Operations | 24 September 2026
