The importance of Air Traffic Controllers, the want of constant zero-error factor, the crucial support needed for pilots and the passengers have been brought to light on eve of this edition of International Air Traffic Controller Day.
Coimbatore: International Day of the Air Traffic Controller is observed on the 20th of October every year. This day celebrates and recognizes the important role played by ATC in the safe conduct of flights.
Even before the wheel was invented, travel has played an important role in the evolution of the human race. From an earlier time of walking until this day of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), we are living in exciting times. From being an elite mode of transport, aviation has transformed itself into a common mode of travel in the past few years – lakhs of people travel by air every day in our country. But many of us do not know how this is made possible.
Air travel is different from other modes of transport. For example, a road vehicle, train, or ship can be held stationary at its current position during times of heavy traffic or congestion, but an airplane cannot be. An aircraft carries fuel to fly against gravity which is calculated and limited based on factors such as weight, distance of travel, passenger count, measure of cargo, etc. Hence it is imperative that an aircraft airborne for a destination lands safely within a stipulated time.
Further, a passenger aircraft cruises at speeds between 8 and 12 km per minute in the sky alongside a lot of other aircraft flying in all directions. All those passengers are fully dependant on their pilots. In such a challenging environment, the pilots trust the Air Traffic Controllers to guide them safely. This makes this job a challenging and responsible one.
All airports in the world have an Air Traffic Control division (ATC). Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) are seated here to guide the numerous aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary objective of ATC is to prevent the collision of aircraft by the provision of safe separation. Moreover, ATCOs play a crucial role in planes reaching destinations on time, traffic regulation, safe operations in unfavourable weather conditions, and search and rescue missions.
The rules in themselves are framed in a manner that for all safety-related operations of aircraft such as starting engines, landing an aircraft, using a runway, altitude to fly at, the cruising speed, pilots execute only after approval from ATCOs. Technology and equipment such as RADAR is used by ATCOs for their everyday work.
Types of Air Traffic Control units
ATCOs work in four types of units – Ground control, Tower Control, Approach/Departure Control, and Area Control. A Pilot and ATCO are always in contact with each other on radio frequency. The pilot requests to start engines from the Ground controller. The ground controller ensures that the departing aircraft reaches the runway without colliding with any object or vehicle. The pilot now contacts the Tower controller who guides the pilot onto the runway after ensuring that the runway is safe to use.
Once airborne, the pilot contacts the Approach/Departure controller who separates the departing aircraft from arriving aircraft and puts the flight on course to its destination in its specific air route. Later the flight is changed over to the Area controller who sends the flight to its destination. At the destination, the flight in descended landed and safely parked as described earlier.
Air Traffic Control is a very responsible job that has zero-tolerance for error. Every controller has the responsibility of guiding pilots by understanding and implementing the rules according to situations and weather changes. ATCOs are specialized and trained to take correct decisions even in confusing and stressful situations.
In order to become an ATCO, one has to qualify for the written exam conducted by the Airports Authority of India. Engineering graduates in all disciplines and B.Sc. graduates in Physics and Mathematics can apply for this job. But, because of the lack of awareness amongst the public, less than 5% of the officers in the past 10 years are from Tamil Nadu.
It is worth mentioning that the Airport Director of Coimbatore International Airport, Senthil Valavan had initially started his service in AAI as an ATCO. He has served in airports all over the country and also in training centres as an instructor wherein he had the opportunity to impart training to many young ATCOs. This year, under the leadership of the Airport Director, Senthil Valavan, Coimbatore International Airport is organizing various functions to commemorate International Day of the Air Traffic Controller.