The Hindu Business Line : Needed: More air traffic controllers

Kolkata March 23 Even as the Indian skies are getting increasingly crowded with airline companies augmenting their fleet and expanding operations, one key stakeholder group in the domestic aviation firmament, clearly under pressure, is the fraternity of air traffic controllers (ATCs).

With the total number of ATCs in India pegged in the region of 1,800-2,000, it is widely felt that it would augur well to ensure that steps are taken to bridge the widening gap — unofficial sources have pegged the number at 1,000 — between the availability and demand for trained ATCs. On its part, the establishment is focused on accelerating the training programme for ATCs under the aegis of the Allahabad-based Civil Aviation Training College (CATC).

In India, the onus of providing training to ATCs is on CATC, which is under the administrative control of the Airports Authority of India. CATC meets the "in-house" aviation sector's training requirements in the fields of ATM (Air Traffic Management) and CNS (Communications, Navigations and Surveillance) as per standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Spread over 106 acres of land, CATC is equipped with modern infrastructure, training facilities, laboratories and simulators.

According to Mr B.N. Madhava Rao, Executive Director/Principal of CATC, ATCs are sent to CATC for training following their recruitment by AAI. They are then trained in three different stages. The first module comprises `Ab-initio training' and this is provided over a 24-week period.

After this, the trainee ATCs are posted at different airports, where they are given on-the-job training.

Following assessment, rating and licensing, they are fit to work in their respective airports for tower control and approach control. The process takes one-two years after recruitment. Thereafter, they are sent for `Area Control' course. This is followed by on-the-job training at different air stations, where they are rated again. Finally, they come back to CATC for a course in `Radar Control'.

The whole process between the time they are recruited by the AAI and when they become fully eligible to operate radar can take anywhere between five and six years. ATCs are also put on "familiarisation flights" with a view to exposing them to the environment in which pilots actually fly and also to facilitate better interaction between the pilot community and ATCs.

In 2006, there were about 150 new entrants to the `Ab-initio' course even as the number of trainee ATCs passing out of the institute was around 240. With more stress on accelerating the training process, this number is expected to go up to "at least 400" in calendar year 2007.

"We need to continuously watch the growth in the domestic civil aviation sector and plan well in advance for the infrastructure and manpower resources that would be required to not just support but also sustain the growth. At CATC, we are gearing ourselves to train an increasing number of ATCs to cope with the growing demand," Mr Rao said.

The CATC faculty is drawn from among the ATC fraternity in adjunct capacity. Currently, there are around 40 faculty members in CATC. "This number is slated to go up with more and more trainee ATCs qualifying for radar control," Mr Rao added.

More Stories on : Human Resources | Airlines

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
SriLankan promotional offer on Net booking

Silk Air announces special fares

Change in Jet flight timings

`New SEZs without affecting agriculture'

CBEC order allows cargo de-stuffing for foreign shippers

Ministry mulls doing away with port classification

Wipro ties up with IATA for e-freight initiative

Concern over reduced labour deployment at Kochi port

Needed: More air traffic controllers

Mitsui Leasing eyeing Indian market

Rail operators pool best practices for higher market share