Air Traffic Controller

DGCA extends deadline for watch duty time limitation norms till Jun 9

Aviation regulator DGCA has extended the deadline for the implementation of watch duty time limitations and rest requirement norms for air traffic controllers till June 9 amid a shortage of air traffic controllers, according to sources. The decision follows requests made by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which had sought an extension to the exemption to CAR on 'Watch duty time limitations and rest requirements of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) engaged in air traffic services'. CAR refers to Civil Aviation Requirements. The deadline for the implementation of the norms has been extended to June 9, according to a communication. The CAR was to come into force this month. A senior official at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the deadline has been extended. While extending the deadline, the watchdog has also asked the AAI to submit the roadmap and action plan with respect to implementing the CAR at all ATS stations on or before June 9, the ..

Aviation regulator DGCA recommends measures to boost mental health of crew

The regulator is of the view that the pressures and stressors at workplace and personal life cannot be addressed through these professional skills, procedures or knowledge

DGCA proposes steps for mental health of crew, air traffic controllers

To ensure mental wellbeing of flight crew and air traffic controllers, civil aviation watchdog DGCA has proposed various measures, including mental health assessment during the medical assessments and peer support programme. A circular will be issued to airlines and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to put in place the necessary provisions to implement the recommendations, a senior DGCA official said on Wednesday. Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) come under AAI. Amid concerns about the mental health of flight crew and ATCOs, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had set up an expert panel. The panel identified three major domains where measures can be taken. They are "mental health assessment during the medical assessments, Peer Support Programme (PSP), and pre-employment psychological assessment," the DGCA said in a release. The expert panel comprised experienced DGCA officers, air safety, clinical aerospace medicine and mental health experts (psychologists). The aim w

Approval granted this year for 340 addl posts of air traffic controllers

The civil aviation ministry on Friday said approval has been granted for the creation of 340 additional posts of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) this year amid their acute shortage. Also, 50 new routes commenced on regional connectivity routes in 2022. In a brief about the major activities taken up by the ministry this year, an official release said that more than 22,500 Indian nationals were safely rescued from Ukraine by operating 90 evacuation flights under Operation Ganga. "The country was facing acute shortage of ATCOs. The Ministry, with concurrence of DPE, approved creation of 340 more posts of ATCOs," it said. Details about the current number of ATCOs could not immediately ascertained. Meanwhile, 11 aircraft were leased by aircraft leasing entities registered from Gujarat International Finance Tec-City GIFT IFSC at the end of September. "International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) issued 'Framework for Aircraft Leases' on May 18, 2022 to enable the aircraft

Flights disrupted as French air traffic controllers launch national strike

Many domestic and some international flights were cancelled in France Friday as air traffic controllers went on a national strike over pay and recruitment issues. French civil aviation authority DGAC warned that domestic traffic would be severely disrupted with many flights cancelled and other experiencing long delays. Travellers have been advised to postpone their trip if possible. Air France said it has cancelled 55% of its short- and medium-haul flights and 10% of its long-haul flights. The company could not rule out further delays and last-minute cancellations, it said in a statement. Other companies operating in France, including Ryanair, Easyjet and Volotea, have also cancelled flights. France's main union of air traffic controllers, the SNCTA, called the one-day strike to demand higher pay amid soaring inflation and demanding more staff to be hired in the coming years.

French air traffic controllers to stage strike for higher wages on Sept 16

Air traffic in France will be severely disrupted this Friday due to a strike over wages, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) has warned

No violation of rules: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Deoghar airport incident

BJP MP from Godda Nishikant Dubey, who has been booked for allegedly forcefully taking clearance from the Air Traffic Control at Deoghar airport in Jharkhand said that there was no violation of rules

Pilot of prominent airline fails drug test; DGCA removes him from duty

A pilot of a prominent airline has been removed from flight duty after he failed a drug test, a senior DGCA official said on Friday. He is the fourth pilot to fail the drug test since the procedure for examination of aviation personnel for consumption of psychoactive substances came into effect from January 31. The test is done for the flight crew and ATCs on a random basis. So far, four pilots and one Air Traffic Controller (ATC) have tested positive for psychoactive substances. According to the official, a pilot of a prominent airline was subjected to the drug test in the national capital. He was found positive in the confirmatory test report received on August 23 and has been removed from the flight duty, the official said. As per the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), in case the result of the confirmatory drug test is positive for the first time, then the personnel concerned will be referred to a de-addiction centre by the organisation concerned for de-addiction and ...

DGCA debars air traffic controller for using psychoactive substance

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has penalised an air traffic controller (ATC) at the Delhi Airport after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance

US's first remote air traffic control centre to be built in Alabama

A company is seeking to build the country's first-ever remote air traffic control centre, which could handle traffic for multiple airports, on the site of an old Air Force base in Alabama

ATC suspended for okaying IndiGo flights that came too close post take off

The incident was called "breach of separation", which happens when two aircraft cross the minimum mandatory vertical or horizontal distance in the airspace.

SpiceJet flights stopped by Delhi ATC for non-payment of airport user fees

AAI has put SpiceJet on 'cash and carry' mode since 2020, due to the airline's inability to clear airport dues

Flight crew, air traffic controllers to be tested for drugs from January

If a personnel is found positive in a drug test for the second time during work, his or her licence will be suspended for three years

Delhi HC permits breath analyser tests for air traffic controllers

Delhi HC permitted conducting breath analyser tests through tube process for air traffic controllers while allowing modification in its earlier order suspending the same in view of the Covid-19

DGCA conducts surprise alcohol tests on airside staff at Mumbai airport

At present, the breath analyser test for these personnel is carried out at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Lucknow and Guwahati airports.

DGCA proposes breath analyser test for air traffic controllers, others

The move comes after several instances were reported threatening safety

Rs 9,500-crore DIAL project to increase airport's capacity goes to L&T

The operator expects that after the expansion, Terminal 1 will have an overall handling capacity of 85 million passengers per year

Inform cases of communicable disease onboard to ATC: DGCA

ATCs ensure safe and expeditious flow of air traffic