ATC officers’ shortage raises worries over aviation safety

THERE is a gaping shortage of personnel in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) centres across the country, posing a major risk to safety of flyers. With the recent opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Jewar International Airport in Noida set for launch shortly, the problem is only set to get compounded.

- S LALITHA @New Delhi

According to sources, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is responsible for these nerve centres of flight operations at airports. An AAI source told this newspaper, “The sanctioned strength of ATC officers is 5,337 and the vacancies we have on date are 1,613 as of now. With new airports opening up and airlines introducing more flights with each passing day, we need at least 8,000 officers. This gaping shortage is a serious risk to the safety of flyers as well as the health of the officers”.