Airliners-India.com Forum Index Airliners-India.com
Flickr Group & Facebook
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Article in Hindustan Times on ATC shortages

 
Post new topic   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Editorial/Analysis/Articles
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Nimish
Member


Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 10:23 pm    Post subject: Article in Hindustan Times on ATC shortages Reply with quote

From: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1924916,00020016.htm

Quote:

ALL FLIGHTS at the Indira Gandhi International Airport are handled by a team of only 10 Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) at any point of time. That makes it about 25 flights per ATC during peak hours.
...
For the past few months, the airport authorities have been blaming the delays and flight diversions on fog. On Thursday night too, dense fog caused delays and 18 flights were diverted.

On Friday again, several flights were delayed and 10 were diverted. The authorities this time blamed it on “strong winds”. Many passengers were not convinced. “I do not believe that was the reason,” said a passenger, whose Jet flight from Mumbai landed in Delhi five hours behind schedule.

He said it had been announced that the delay was caused by traffic congestion. When HT probed further on Saturday, it found that traffic congestion was a result of crumbling infrastructure and delays in pilots getting clearance from ATCs.

“The infrastructure at the airport is not at all equipped to handle the pressure of the large number of flights. With the limited manpower we have, there cannot be any better results,” said a senior ATC. In 2005, the airport handled 450 flights a day; in mid-2006, it was 550. Today, it is 650 a day.

The number of ATCs, however, is the same as four years ago, said an official. There are only 40 radar controllers — seniors who actually communicate with the pilots — working in shifts. The total ATC team is of 190 personnel.

“Not more than 10 ATCs handle the traffic at any given time when both the runways are in use, otherwise the number is just six,” the official said. “We should have 40 ATCs during simultaneous use of the runways.” Director General of Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain said, “The ATC needs to be upgraded.” “Recruitment is on in full swing and the situation will get better,” said T. Premnath, spokesman of the Airports Authority of India. But given that recruits who joined in 2000 are yet to become radar controllers, the future appears to be grim.



10 ATCs for a busy airport like DEL seems rather low, but I don't know the standards internationally. I guess it may help to upgrade the systems/ procedures/ equipment in place?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
HAWK21M
Member


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 8132
Location: Mumbai, INDIA

PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unlike the past.Till date this Time around the Fog at Del has not been too severe.
However its true that these ATC folks are doing a great job under the circumstances & its high time their strength was suplemmented.
regds
MEL
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
selecta
Member


Joined: 24 Dec 2006
Posts: 813
Location: ORD

PostPosted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Send 'em to the US to be trained Laughing

US is going to be facing a ATC shortage in the coming decade also and there is a push at our university to develop an ATC training program on campus
_________________

http://openflights.org/user/citrus
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Editorial/Analysis/Articles All times are GMT + 5.5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com