Equipped with new rules, ATC officers to make air journey safer
| Date :13-Feb-2020 |
Principal Correspondent :
All the ATC officers at Nagpur airport become DGCA license holders as per the new rule
Directorate General of Civil Aviation has brought new rules to equip the Air Traffic Control Officers at airports in India. It has issued the licenses to the officers who acquired training with new rules. This will make air journey safer. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) at Nagpur imparted the training with new rules to its ATC officers and distributed licenses to these officers. It was a proud moment for AAI at Nagpur when all the Air Traffic Control Officers of this ATC centre were awarded licenses by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Besides the creation, up-gradation, maintenance and operation of the ground infrastructure for Indian Civil Aviation, AAI is also entrusted with managing the safe operations of aircraft not only in Indian sovereign airspace but also airspace well into the high seas. The Indian ATC system ensures safe movement of aircraft in 2.8 million sq. km. of Indian and delegated airspace. For the past many decades, Indian ATCOs have been very successfully handling this challenge. The Nagpur ATC centre is a very complex and strategically located central Indian ATC center which plays a vital role in the entire Indian aviation system. Being a part of a global air-safety mechanism, the skill and expertise of all the Indian ATCOs are always maintained at a very high level.
Like any other global safety system Indian ATC is also periodically subjected to universal safety audits by ICAO, the Global Safety Aviation Regulator of which India is a member state. At the behest of the ICAO, Indian ATM system is made to pass through a rigorous certification procedure to enable it to discharge its function safely. Towards this, the Government of India had undertaken a massive exercise to license the Indian ATCOs. This exhibits Indian commitment towards safety of International Civil Aviation. Besides ensuring safety of the millions of flying public, this also demonstrates to the world that India is a safe country to do business. The ATCOs of Nagpur ATC center have been certified by DGCA and Government of India licenses have been issued for all the ATCOs.
The licenses were issued to the individual controllers in a function organized by Airports Authority of India (AAI), Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport Nagpur. These licenses are issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Government of India to the all the rated ATCOs of Nagpur Airport who are providing Air Traffic Services to more than 1,500 flights passing through the airspace per day. These guardians of the sky are working day and night to ensure safe passage of flights and safe landings at the airports under their jurisdiction.
It was a proud moment for the AAI Nagpur office as these licenses reflect international recognition and endorsement of their hard work towards safety of flying public. The licenses were awarded by Yudhisthir Sahoo, General Manager Air Traffic Management (ATM) and ATC Chief, Nagpur Airport. All senior officers from Airports Authority of India, Mihan India Limited, Indian Air Force, India Meteorological Department Nagpur, Officials from Air India, Indigo, Go Air Airlines, Air India MRO, TATA Aerospace Limited (TAL), Nagpur, Dassault Reliance Aviation Limited (DRAL), Oxford Speakers' Academy, Nagpur and other stakeholders in aviation at Nagpur were invited to the function. The occasion was also graced by Pilots from the schedule airlines operating from Nagpur Airport.
The legendary aviator J.R.D. Tata, the first licensed pilot of India was paid respect on this appropriate occasion. Nagpur being centrally located, the airspace is vital to the aviation world as it handles flights connecting North to South India, South East Asia to destinations in Middle East and European nations.