ATCs to get autonomy

New Delhi: The aviation ministry is all set to corporatise air traffic services in the country. The aviation policy — called Vision 2020 — that will be considered by the Union cabinet on Friday talks of hiving off ATC from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to form an ATC Corporation.
"This company will be a subsidiary of the AAI. It’ll be made independent so that ATCs can cope with the huge growth in air traffic," aviation minister Praful Patel said.
Patel said at present ATC is looked as yet another department and this critical area needs focused attention. The country has about 1,500 air traffic controllers at present. This areas earns revenue from several areas like aeronautical charges from airlines for providing navigation both in air and ground. The AAI has an annual revenue of about Rs 3,000 crore and nearly 40% of this comes from ATC services.
"There have been complaints for long that our demands are not heard and adequate attention is not paid to us. The AAI does not even have a member (ATC) despite the critical importance of the job that we do" said a source.
15/06/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2007, New Jun 2007, Safety Jun 2007