Mumbai:: Air traffic controllers (ATCs), the overworked, unsung heroes of aviation, have at last a reason to smile. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reduced the working week for ATCs from 42 to 36 hours and reworked their rest rules, to be followed at all airports in the country. But the reworked norms are unlikely to be implemented before next year because of staff shortage.
The new norms are on a par with those of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). They stipulate work in five shifts against the current practice of four and mandatory weekly offs as opposed to no specifications for offs at present. An official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI; the DGCA reworked the ATC norms along with it) said the rules intend to give breathing space to overworked ATCs who go without proper rest. He said ATC fatigue is a major cause of accidents and so the new norms translate into passenger safety. "ATCs in Australia, the UK and the US follow rules similar to the DGCAs reworked norms. That ATCs in Western countries enjoy better work conditions has always been a matter of discussion for the AAI and the DGCA."
Explaining the rule for shifts, he said: "Let's say that on day one, one batch does afternoon duty, from 1 pm to 8 pm. On day two, this batch will be on morning duty, from 8 am to 1 am. On day three, it will be on night duty, from 8 pm to 8 am the next day. Day five will be off, when another batch will be working.
30/07/11 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
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