Under Staffed ATC could be why your flights are delayed

If your flight is getting delayed, then it could be well because of the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

SECOND BIGGEST REASON FOR FLIGHT DELAYS

You may get impatient with the airlines, but they could just be helpless without the ATC's clearance to take off. And the ATC itself seems to be reeling under staff crunch among other factors that has made it difficult to operate properly. No surprise then that ATC has become the second biggest reason for flight delays in recent times.

According to civil aviation regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), this year ATC has delayed 19 per cent of flights. Last year, this figure was merely 7-8 per cent. According to the officials, the delay caused due to the ATC has seen a steep rise since May. The various factors involved include shortage of staff, security, restrictions, etc.

"ATC is responsible for air traffic but it has been noticed that it has become second biggest reason which is delaying flights. The details will be analysed by DGCA officials as this figure keeps on increasing every month," a senior official of Ministry of Civil Aviation told Mail Today.

OPERATIONS CRIPPLED

According to the data analysed by DGCA, In August this year almost 19 per cent delays were caused due to ATC. Last year for same month, this figure stood at 10 per cent. Similarly, since May this year this figure has increased from 13 per cent to 19 per cent. Last year the delays increased from 7 per cent in May to 10 per cent in August. "This is rare and the ATC faces multiple issues which delay operations.

In Delhi, almost three years back a software was introduced which was to communicate between airlines, ATC and other agencies involved in aircraft operations. But that software could not fulfill the purpose for which it was introduced, which was improvement in operations," a senior airport official said.

UNDER STAFFED ATC

One of the biggest reason for blaming ATC for delay is shortage of staff. According to a senior air traffic controller, if sufficient number of staff is deployed to control the air traffic, delays would come down by almost 50-60 per cent varying from city to city. "Almost 1,500 ATC controllers are required to operate air traffic smoothly. For example, Mumbai required almost 200 ATC officials. This issue was also raised by an international aviation body when they conducted an audit," the official added.

REASONS FOR DELAYS

Till last year, weather, airline operational reasons, technical problems were behind the flight delays.

Reasons such as aircraft rotation, crew rotation, awaiting for passenger load have been major reasons that put passengers in trouble.

The airlines have no control over delays caused by the ATC. If the ATC does not give a flight the permission to start up, take off or in cases when the aircraft have long queue, the flights will get delayed.

"In terms of time performance, the airlines are badly affected due to such issues. We have nothing to do if there is a shortage of staff or ATC is unable to give permission due to restrictions.

But these things create problem as the passengers question the airlines for delay. There have been cases where passengers refused to understand that the delay was caused by the ATC," a senior airline official said requesting anonymity.

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