Mumbai: For overworked Air traffic controllers (ATCs), the reworking of their rest rules by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA)) might have spelt relief, but due to staff shortage, they will have to wait till the end of the year before the n e w norms are implemented. At present, 210 ATCs work at Mumbai airport against a required strength of 400. At Delhi airport, too, ATCs are half the required strength. As per an internal assessment done by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 2009, the c o u n t r y needed 4,600 ATCs. But at present, the number working is only about 1,500. Unless the shortfall is met, the reworked ATC rest norms like an increase in shift, compulsory weekly offs and work on rotation cannot take effect.
"It will be impossible to implement the reworked norms without sufficient manpower. In Mumbai, we will need at least 40 more ATCs to even set the ball rolling. To improve the efficiency of ATCs, and of the airport in general, we need 250 additional people. The staff requirement for an optimal functioning of the airport is larger," said a senior ATC. "Because of the staff shortage, ATCs do not get a clear day off at present. It must, however, be said that they (ATCs at Mumbai airport) get a due number of hours of rest between shifts."
30/07/11 Times of India
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