Does the ATC need upgradation to handle the increasing air traffic?
ATC definitely needs upgradation. Unfortunately, the civil aviation policy in India is Delhi-centric. The airports in the rest of the country get stepmotherly treatment. The manpower shortage among controllers is bound to affect safety. They have no duty time limits. It is said that the Mangalore runway was not in compliance with international standards. This shows the callous attitude of both the Airports Authority of India and DGCA. The markings are wrong and the short 90-metre Runway End Safety Area (RESA) is thoughtless. Annex 14 requires a minimum of 120 m and recommends 240 m where the terrain warrants a safer option. Just to increase the runway length, RESA has been reduced. The fact that DGCA gave clearance to this serious violation speaks volumes of its competence. What should the government do for better flight safety regulations? Our regulations and procedures are outdated. We need an independent regulator and safety board. Having a plethora of committees with past regulator
