Mumbai: Instead of spreading happiness, the day of celebration turned into confrontation and controversy. On the ‘International Day of Air Traffic Controllers’ celebrated last week, anger flared up at the Surat air traffic control tower, when the airport director allegedly shouted and shouted at the controllers on duty. On Monday, the Air Traffic Controllers Guild, a union representing controllers across India, called for the removal of the said airport director.
The incident is of October 20 when the said airport director Surat Air Traffic Control Tower (atc) with the officials of HR department. The director reprimanded the controllers for showing themselves to be unnecessarily busy and busy when there is no air traffic, a complaint letter was sent by the controllers to his senior.
Then she asked the controllers if they knew why she went to the tower. When the controllers gave negative feedback, the director said that he and others were there to wish the controllers on their special day. Then she started clapping loudly and repeatedly shouting, ‘Shame on ATC’, the controllers alleged. “he asked the other AAI officials to join him,” the letter said. She said she doesn’t care if they record it all. A controller on the active channel told him not to disturb him and the other controllers.
In a letter to the Controllers Guild dated October 25 AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA The Chairman said: “The unforgivable act of harassing the controllers on duty, who have been entrusted with the responsibility of safe flight operations, is an attempt to disrupt air traffic services. The union demanded an inquiry CCTV Footage of the incident. An aviation source said: “Under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Rule 159, obstructing a person on duty attracts a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
JT Radhakrishna, Regional Executive Director, airport authority of india Said they are looking into the matter. TOI contacted the said Surat airport director. “Nothing happened,” she said at the outset. Asked if he had seen the complaint sent by the controllers, he said: “We are working on it. There is nothing to report. It’s an internal matter.”
The Guild in its letter pointed out that there is a staff shortage in Surat ATC which has forced the controllers to handle non-air traffic control duties as well as airport security, licensing, bird and wildlife risk management etc. already disturbing their work-life balance, which is a serious concern in itself… Such immoral and unprofessional act by an accountable officer not only discouraged and discouraged air traffic controllers but has basically upset them.” Guild Letters.
The incident is of October 20 when the said airport director Surat Air Traffic Control Tower (atc) with the officials of HR department. The director reprimanded the controllers for showing themselves to be unnecessarily busy and busy when there is no air traffic, a complaint letter was sent by the controllers to his senior.
Then she asked the controllers if they knew why she went to the tower. When the controllers gave negative feedback, the director said that he and others were there to wish the controllers on their special day. Then she started clapping loudly and repeatedly shouting, ‘Shame on ATC’, the controllers alleged. “he asked the other AAI officials to join him,” the letter said. She said she doesn’t care if they record it all. A controller on the active channel told him not to disturb him and the other controllers.
In a letter to the Controllers Guild dated October 25 AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA The Chairman said: “The unforgivable act of harassing the controllers on duty, who have been entrusted with the responsibility of safe flight operations, is an attempt to disrupt air traffic services. The union demanded an inquiry CCTV Footage of the incident. An aviation source said: “Under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, Rule 159, obstructing a person on duty attracts a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
JT Radhakrishna, Regional Executive Director, airport authority of india Said they are looking into the matter. TOI contacted the said Surat airport director. “Nothing happened,” she said at the outset. Asked if he had seen the complaint sent by the controllers, he said: “We are working on it. There is nothing to report. It’s an internal matter.”
The Guild in its letter pointed out that there is a staff shortage in Surat ATC which has forced the controllers to handle non-air traffic control duties as well as airport security, licensing, bird and wildlife risk management etc. already disturbing their work-life balance, which is a serious concern in itself… Such immoral and unprofessional act by an accountable officer not only discouraged and discouraged air traffic controllers but has basically upset them.” Guild Letters.
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