ATCs working under immense pressure, reveals Parliamentary Standing Committee

 

 

THE safety of Indian airspace is critically dependent on the vigilance and performance of its Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs). But, they are working under tremendous pressure, revealed a report prepared by D e p a r t m e n t - r e l a t e d Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild (India), the professional body representing licensed ATCOs, apprised the Committee of a ‘persistent and serious shortage’ of controllers at numerous airports. This deficit is so severe that it has reportedly led to the closure or merging of critical operational units, such as approach and area control sectors, particularly during night hours.

 

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which provides nationwide air navigation services, acknowledged that the workload for ATCOs had increased considerably, driven by both the sheer volume of traffic and the growing complexity of airspace management. This pressure was most acute at the nation’s busiest airports, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, where many controllers are reportedly operating under prolonged and fatiguing duty schedules, says the report. Commenting on the findings by the Committee, Alok Yadav, General Secretary of ATC Guild said,“There are about approved 1,000 posts of ATCs not filled yet. With increasing flights, we need at least 1,500 more ATCs. It takes 6 months to train one ATC. Even if we appoint 1,000 ATCs, we don’t have adequate training centres. At present, there are only 3 training centres viz Allahabad, Hyderabad and Gondia where we can train only 210 ATCs. We need to increase training centres also.”

 

The report further points out, “TheAAI states that the deployment of ATCOs is undertaken based on the DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on Watch Duty Time Limitations (WDTL), which are aligned with international norms, and considers air traffic volume to ensure safe and efficient air traffic management. The act of seeking exemptions is a formal admission by the service provider (AAI) that it cannot function without violating its own safety rules. The act of granting these exemptions year after year suggests that the regulator (DGCA) has been complicit in institutionalising this high-risk practice. This chronic fatigue directly and significantly increases the probability of controller error. Such an error could manifest in various dangerous ways, including a loss of standard separation between aircraft, a runway incursion, a delayed or incorrect response to an emergency, or a complete breakdown in situational awareness. The ATCO shortage is, therefore, not just a staffing or administrative issue; it is an active and ongoing threat to the safety of the flying public, says the report.

 

The Committee has recommended that the practice of granting routine exemptions from WDTL regulations must cease immediately. In its place, the Ministry must direct the AAI, in consultation with the DGCA, to develop and implement a modern, scientificallybased Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) for ATCOs, aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and EASA best practices. This system should include enforceable standards on work hours, rest periods, and roster design. The Ministry must direct the AAI to undertake a comprehensive, airportwise staffing audit to scientifically assess ATCO requirements based on current and projected traffic levels, airspace complexity, and operational hours. This audit must form the basis for an urgent, time-bound recruitment plan to eliminate the existing deficit.The Ministry must oversee a plan to significantly expand the capacity of ATC training centres to match recruitment levels. Alok Yadav said, “ATC-experienced professional should be included in AI Board, financial penalties should be removed, childcare leave should be introduced, which was decided for all Government of India employees since pay revision of 2007.”