17 airports, one safety officer

Calcutta: The safety of air operations at Calcutta and other airports in the east is being compromised because of a shortage of air safety officers (ASO).
Although crores are being spent on the upgrade of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) equipment in Calcutta for the past three years, there is only one air safety officer for surveillance of 17 airports in the region.
“There are 29 ASOs in the four regions of the country, with one officer in Calcutta looking after the entire eastern region,” Kanu Gohain, the director-general of civil aviation (DGCA), said over the phone from Delhi.
“We have requested the civil aviation ministry to increase manpower. Recruitment will begin soon,” he added.
The air safety controller’s office in Calcutta is supposed to conduct surprise checks across the region to catch drunk pilots and cabin crew and to ensure in-flight safety, like having oxygen masks and life jackets for every passenger.
At the airports, too, the ASO is supposed to check whether runway lines and lights can be seen clearly by pilots during landing and whether the runways are safe for operations. They also have to ensure all CNS systems at the air traffic control are working properly.
In the early 1990s, when Indian Airlines and Air India were the only carriers in the domestic sector, the regional air safety office had three ASOs.
27/08/08 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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Categories: Airports Aug 2008, Safety Aug 2008