30 air traffic controllers to be trained in automation in US

Chennai: In the coming days, around 30 ATCs and communication wing engineers are expected to fly out to the US for a training programme. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) began the project over a year ago. The Rs 42-crore contract for the project was bagged by US-based Raytheon.
Sources said that the ATCs would be trained at the Raytheon's facility at Boston, Massachusetts. "The personnel will be sent to the US in batches and the training may extend from 20 days to a month," the sources added
The training comes after Raytheon officials visited the airport last year, worked with controllers, studied the ATC procedures and systems. Once the training is completed, Raytheon will begin installing the system.
An automated ATC system at the Chennai airport is expected to take some time. Such a system is already in place at the Mumbai and Delhi airports.
"It may take a year or so. The training itself is going to take place only now, after Raytheon officials studied ATC system at the airport last October. The training is part of the installation procedure where Raytheon staff will have to work closely with controllers and communication engineers," said a source.
04/11/10 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Nov 2010, Foreign Nov 2010, New Nov 2010