Mumbai: While Juhu airport is in the news for shutting operations 90 minutes before the normal closure time due to shortage of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), it has also come to the fore at the same time that the number of working hours put in by ATCOs in India is far lesser than the global average.
A recent audit by a United Nations (UN) team found out that the number of working hours put in by the Indian Air Traffic Controllers was lesser than the world average. Following that, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which runs most of the civil aviation airports and the air navigation system in the country, ordered all airports on Wednesday to modify the shift hours and cycles of ATCs to bring it on par with the world average.
The UN-backed team of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had visited India, including the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), in December last year. In their report, the team pointed out the serious shortage of air traffic controllers. ICAO submitted its report to Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"During the safety oversight audit, DGCA pointed out that the weekly working hours of ATCOs in India is less than the world average. This is also resulting in shortage of ATCOs," read the order signed by executive director of Air Traffic Management, PK Mishra.
08/04/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
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A recent audit by a United Nations (UN) team found out that the number of working hours put in by the Indian Air Traffic Controllers was lesser than the world average. Following that, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which runs most of the civil aviation airports and the air navigation system in the country, ordered all airports on Wednesday to modify the shift hours and cycles of ATCs to bring it on par with the world average.
The UN-backed team of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had visited India, including the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), in December last year. In their report, the team pointed out the serious shortage of air traffic controllers. ICAO submitted its report to Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
"During the safety oversight audit, DGCA pointed out that the weekly working hours of ATCOs in India is less than the world average. This is also resulting in shortage of ATCOs," read the order signed by executive director of Air Traffic Management, PK Mishra.
08/04/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis
