**Subject:** Shortage of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) at Smaller Airports
**Summary:**
This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1978 regarding a potential shortage of permanent Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) at smaller airports across India and the potential impact on aviation safety and security. The Ministry of Civil Aviation acknowledges the concerns regarding ATCO staffing levels, particularly at Category C airports where single ATCOs may be responsible for multiple critical tasks. The Ministry asserts that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deploys ATCOs based on Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on Watch Duty Time Limitations (WDTL), adhering to international norms and air traffic volume to ensure safe and efficient air traffic management. The AAI currently has a sanctioned strength of 5537 ATCOs and assesses ATCO requirements periodically based on operational needs. Recruitment is an ongoing process, utilizing both direct recruitment and departmental examinations to fill vacancies. The Ministry maintains that aviation safety is ensured through optimal utilization of available manpower in accordance with established norms and standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of policies, plans and programmes for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector in the country.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs): Personnel responsible for directing aircraft movements to maintain safe and efficient air traffic flow.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): A statutory body responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory body for civil aviation in India.
Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR): Regulatory requirements set by the DGCA for civil aviation operations.
Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Watch Duty Time Limitations (WDTL): Regulations pertaining to the maximum permissible working hours for air traffic controllers to prevent fatigue and ensure safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1978
st
(To be answered on the 31 July 2025)
SHORTAGE OF ATCOS
1978. SHRI JUGAL KISHORE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware of the acute shortage of permanent Air
Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) at several smaller airports across the
country;
(b) whether it is a fact that at many Category-C airports, a single ATCO is
being tasked with highly sensitive works such as runway clearance, radar
surveillance and weather reporting thereby posing a serious risk to aviation
safety and security and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to implement a time-bound action plan
to provide full time technical human resource as per minimum standards at
all airports and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): The deployment of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) is
undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) based on the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation - Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on Watch
Duty Time Limitations (WDTL) which is as per international norms and also
as per air traffic volume at airports so as to ensure safe and efficient air traffic
management. Aviation safety is maintained through optimal utilization of
available manpower in accordance with the extant norms and standards.
The recruitment of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs) is a continuous
process undertaken by AAI in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by
DGCA. With a total sanctioned strength of 5537 ATCOs, AAI assesses the
requirement for ATCOs from time to time based on the operational needs at
various airports. The vacancies are filled through direct recruitment as well
as departmental examinations.*****