ATC trainees to blame for air proximities

New Delhi: Handling of air traffic control (ATC) responsibilities by trainee controllers (under the supervision of instructors) was responsible for some of the 12 incidents of air proximity of aircraft in the Indian skies from January to June this year, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has admitted.
Of the 12 incidents of air proximity of aircraft from January to June this year, as many as five occurred in the Chennai Flight Information Region (FIR) while three occurred in the Delhi FIR. There were as many as four air proximity cases in the country in May alone this year, DGCA figures show.
In response to an RTI application filed, the DGCA stated (on the causes of the air proximity), "During on-job training, some of the airprox (codeword for air proximity) occurred when traffic was handled by a trainee controller under the supervision of the instructor."
Another startling cause listed was manpower shortage in the DGCA and Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Yet another cause given was increase in air traffic "leading to stress and fatigue".
01/09/08 Sridhar Kumaraswami/AsianAge/Howrah News Service

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Categories: Airports Sep 2008, Safety Sep 2008