Advertisement
The Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel Association (ATSEPA) has called for immediate modernization of navigation systems at major Indian airports, citing recent air traffic disruptions at Delhi International Airport. Highlighting outdated Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) systems and over-reliance on automation, ATSEPA stressed the need for proper deployment of trained CNS engineers and redundancy in critical systems. The association urged the government to ensure technical inputs are incorporated in planning and procurement, review air traffic management practices, and strengthen safety infrastructure to prevent operational delays and errors.
The Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel Association (ATSEPA), representing electronic engineers at the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI), has urged the government to prioritize the modernization of navigation systems across major airports. The appeal comes in the wake of operational disruptions at Delhi International Airport, operated by the GMR Group, where hundreds of flights faced delays due to a glitch in the air traffic control (ATC) messaging system last week. Advertisement
ATSEPA pointed out that Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) systems are the core functions of Air Navigation Services (ANS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM). In correspondence with the Civil Aviation Minister, the association stated that despite repeated warnings and proposals, upgrades, redundancy creation, and proper deployment of trained CNS engineers have not been implemented with the urgency required for an essential 24X7 service.
Association office bearer Yogendra Gautam noted that the recent operational disruptions highlighted a long-standing neglect of CNS infrastructure and the sidelining of technical recommendations provided by CNS engineers to AAI leadership. Copies of the communication were marked to the Secretary of Civil Aviation and the AAI chairman.
ATSEPA also requested that CNS engineers' inputs be formally incorporated when procuring or upgrading operational systems and emphasized that technical staff should not be diverted to non-CNS roles. The association further highlighted the need to review ATM operational practices, noting that reluctance to rely on manual fallback procedures and over-dependence on outdated automation have contributed to avoidable errors.
The association said aviation safety now depends on strong technology, competent technical manpower, and modern systems, rather than expanding supervisory positions. It blamed the crisis on outdated systems, such as the automated message switching system (AMSS), which lacks redundancy and modern capabilities. Instead of addressing these core issues, public focus has shifted to air traffic controller (ATCO) manpower, despite adequate staffing levels.
ATSEPA added that ATCOs remain heavily dependent on automated systems, and manual fallback procedures are often inadequately executed during system failures, resulting in errors and delays. The association also pointed out that highly trained CNS engineers are deployed in many non-technical or low-utility postings, while critical stations face shortages.
For a modern aviation system, ATSEPA emphasized that CNS engineers must be assigned strictly to CNS functions, with their technical inputs incorporated at planning and procurement stages. Modernized systems and redundancy must be prioritized, and training should be enhanced to meet global standards.
Source PTI
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
