Integrate civil, military ATC, suggests Lahoti

The Justice R C Lahoti court of inquiry, which probed the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in November that killed 349 people, has recommended that the government integrate civil and military air traffic controls for greater safety.

The court of inquiry, which was set up soon after the November 12 tragedy involving Saudi and Kazakh airliners, felt the government should introduce a scheme of licensing for controllers and make it applicable to the military too. This would help achieve uniform standards in controlling, it stated.

It said special status should be accorded to the air traffic personnel, preferably by examining the feasibility of de-linking air traffic service from the normal organisational setup and creating an independent cadre to be governed by separate provisions.

Lahoti said in his report that an adequately staffed accident and incident prevention directorate should be established in the Directorate-Ggeneral of Civil Aviation to enhance the level of safety in civil aviation in the country.

The government was also asked to create a suitable ATC element at a senior level in the DGCA to properly oversee all aspects of air traffic control.

''The Airports Authority of India should have a member on its board to look after ATC matters. Regional and field ATC units should be placed under the unified command of the ATC cadre,'' Lahoti said.

Besides the Airborne Collision Avoidance System, which the DGCA has made mandatory by the end of 1998, all public transport aircraft should be equipped with altitude alert system and altitude acquisition system, the court of inquiry said.

It suggested that the AAI bifurcate ATS route G-452, a high-density traffic route, into unidirectional arrival and departure corridors. Other bi-directional routes may also be restructured wherever warranted, it said.

EARLIER REPORT:
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