Air Traffic Controller

Air travellers face frustration as FAA's further flight cuts take effect

Air travellers could face more frustration as busy US airports need to meet a higher Federal Aviation Administration target for reducing flights Tuesday after already cancelling thousands to scale back demands on the nation's aviation system during the government shutdown. The FAA ordered domestic airlines last week to drop 4 per cent of their flights at 40 major US airports, saying absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers made it imperative to act in the name of public safety. After already cancelling more than 7,900 since Friday, the goal for cutting flights is set to rise to 6 per cent on Tuesday and again to 10 per cent on Friday. But it was unclear exactly how many additional flights would need to be cancelled Tuesday. The average cancellation rate over the last few days already exceeded the FAA's requirement, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. The FAA also expanded its flight restrictions Monday, barring business jets and many private flights from ..

All flight operations return to normal after glitch: Delhi airport operator

The Indira Gandhi International Airport said that the technical issue that affected the AMSS, which supports the ATC flight planning process, is gradually improving

Air traffic controllers' strike disrupts travel to, from, and over France

About 40 per cent of flights were cancelled on Friday at all Paris airports and tens of thousands of passengers were rearranging plans at the height of the summer travel season because of a strike by French air traffic controllers seeking better working conditions. Disruptions started hitting airports around France on Thursday and intensified on Friday. The national civil aviation authority asked airlines to cancel 40 per cent of flights Friday at Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Beauvais airports serving Paris, half of flights in Nice and 30 per cent of flights in Marseille, Lyon and some other cities. Despite the preventive cancellations, the authority warned in a statement that disruptions and long delays are to be expected at all French airports. Ryanair was among airlines that announced widespread disruptions, saying in a statement it cancelled more than 400 flights affecting 70,000 passengers. The company said the strike affects all its flights over French airspace, as well as ...

Mumbai ATC reports surge in traffic as flights avoid Pakistani airspace

Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) has experienced a surge in traffic, after international flights were rerouted due to the closure of Pakistani airspace since last month, sources said. Apart from handling Europe, North and South America-bound flights originating from Mumbai, the ATC is now also handling aircraft flying towards these regions from Northern India, the sources added. Pakistan shut its airspace for Indian airlines on April 24 in response to India's diplomatic measures against the neighbouring country following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed at least 26 people. On April 30, India also shut its airspace to Pakistan airlines as part of the retaliatory measure. On a normal day, Mumbai ATC handles between 950-970 arrivals and departures, including unscheduled flights, apart from some 2,000 flights overflying Mumbai skies, as per sources. "Some 130 flights from Northern India for destinations in Europe, North and South America would take the ...

Arizona midair collision raises questions about air traffic control towers

Tens of thousands of planes take off, land and perform touch-and-goes at the Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona every year. Without an air traffic control tower, it's a calculated dance that requires communication by pilots. Two small planes collided in midair over one of the runways on the outskirts of Tucson last week. One hit the ground and caught fire, sending up a plume of black smoke. The remains of two people were found in the charred wreckage. The other plane was able to land, with those occupants uninjured. The collision was the latest aviation mishap to draw attention in recent weeks. The circumstances vary widely with each case, however, and experts who study aviation accidents say they don't see any connection between them. Chatter over the airwaves has provided some clues about what happened in Arizona. A chief flight instructor who was in the air with a student that day heard the commotion over the radio: One plane was attempting a touch-and-go when another ..

Trump blames 'obsolete' air traffic control system for collision near DC

President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed last week's deadly collision of a passenger jet and Army helicopter on what he called an obsolete computer system used by U.S. air traffic controllers, and he vowed to replace it. Trump said during an event that a lot of mistakes happened on Jan. 29 when an American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas, collided with an Army helicopter as the plane was about to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, killing all 67 people on board the two aircraft. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Trump blamed it on diversity hiring programs. But on Thursday, he blamed the computer system used by the country's air traffic controllers. It's amazing that it happened, Trump said during a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol. And I think that's going to be used for good. I think what is going to happen is we're all going to sit down and do a great computerized system for our control towers. Brand new not pieced

Navi Mumbai airport set to begin commercial ops in May 2025: AAHL

The airport, which is currently under construction, will start international operations by July next year, said Arun Bansal, chief executive officer (CEO), AAHL

DGCA set to issue licenses to Air Traffic Controllers in electronic form

Aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is all set to issue licenses to Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) in electronic form as it looks to go paperless in its functioning and embrace the digital future. The introduction of electronic licenses is designed to significantly improve operational efficiency, enabling ATCOs to access and manage their licenses with ease on self-contained mobile electronic visual display devices, such as mobile phones or tablets, the DGCA said in an official statement. The move is not merely a regulatory update but represents a fundamental shift in the operational dynamics of air traffic management, it said. "In a transformative initiative, the DGCA is set to introduce the paperless Personnel License for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs). This innovative move signifies a pivotal shift in the management of personnel licenses, ushering in an era of enhanced efficiency and modernisation within the Indian aviation landscape," the ...

IndiGo lands, Air India takes off on same runway at same time in Mumbai

ATC official de-rostered; DGCA, AAI probing the incident

IndiGo aircraft lands before AI plane could take off at Mumbai airport

DGCA derosters air traffic control officer involved in the incident; starts probe

Won't have ATC towers at airports in 20 years, says Adani Airports CEO

AAI has started trials with remote digital towers, he added

Vistara rejects reports its pilot woes disrupted flight operations

Cites bad weather, air traffic congestion among reasons for flight cancellations

DGCA issues guidelines to prevent runway incursions, calls for training

Aviation regulator issues circular after Jan 2 accident at Haneda Airport in Tokyo

DGCA derosters pilots after IndiGo flight leaves without ATC clearance

The DGCA is currently investigating the incident on how the flight could take off without getting the ATC clearance, officials mentioned

Aviation watchdog DGCA carried out 5,745 surveillance activities in 2023

Regulator DGCA carried out 5,745 surveillance activities with respect to airlines, airports and approved organisations in 2023 as part of its efforts to ensure compliance and enhance safety standards in the aviation space, The activities included 4,039 planned surveillance and 1,706 spot checks and night surveillance. Subsequently, the findings resulted in 542 enforcement actions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a release on Wednesday. The number of surveillance activities rose 26 per cent last year compared to 2022. Also, the number of enforcement actions increased 77 per cent last year compared to 305 enforcement actions taken against non-compliant personnel, airlines, and other operators in 2022. These enforcement actions included financial penalties against airlines such as Air India, AirAsia (India), IndiGo and SpiceJet. Besides, the watchdog had temporarily suspended its approval to Air India's training facilities, as per the release. Enforcement acti

Paris-bound Air India flight returns to Delhi after suspected tyre burst

Air India officials said that alternate arrangements are being made for the passengers to reach their destinations

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