Air Traffic Control

Deepak Karuppiah

Air Traffic Controller

Airports Authority of India
Coimbatore International Airport
 Civil Aviation
• Characteristics of Civil Aviation

Fastest mode of public transport

Service Industry – Economic impact
Huge Investment
High risk industry
Air Traffic Control (ATC) ?

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The Common Perception
 What is ATC?
• What actually ATC is?
• “Eyes and Ears of Pilots”

• PILOTs FOLLOW ATC INSTRUCTIONS

– When to Start Engines
– Which way to Taxi (surface movement) ?
– Which Direction to Fly
– Initial Level to Climb
– Speed Control
– To Take off or Land?
Why ATC is required?
 Why ATC is required?
– High risk industry- To ensure high safety standards-
Prevent collision
– Orderly flow of air traffic
– Search and rescue assistance

– Why Prevent collisions ?

– Why orderly flow of traffic ?
• Sky is so vast and the aircraft is
comparatively small.
 How is ATC done?
– Aircraft are flying on air routes.
– Terminating on Aerodromes.
– Arriving aircraft converges over an Airport
– Departing aircraft diverges
Control Area:
• Co ordination between different ATC units, starting
•from theofdeparture
Radius 25 NM to destination aerodromes
centered at VOR

• Additional ‘Fingers’

• Vertical limit: 5500 ft.

AMSL to FL 145
How is ATC done?
 How do aeroplanes fly?
• Using Navigational Ground Aids

• With the help of Radar

• Satellite based Navigation

 ATC Job Nature

• Complex Situations
– Climb and Descend through
the levels of other flights
– Aircraft Converging at a point
– Deviations from a route
– Heavy traffic scenario
• Aircraft Emergencies
• Low Fuel
• Fire/ Engine Damage/Body Damage
• Pressurization Failure
• Bomb Threat/ Hijack
• RT Failure
 ATC Job Nature
• So, ATC is required
– To Prevent collision and ensure high safety standards
– To handle complex traffic situations and to ensure orderly flow of air traffic
– To assist in emergencies
– To assist in search and rescue assistance

• Requirements of the job

– Precise knowledge (almost everything related to acft safety)
– Zero error tolerance
– Ability to handle Stress
– Split second decision making
– Ability to control emotions
– Team work
– Excellent situation awareness
– Adequate English proficiency
 ATC Job Nature
• Pros
– Job in cities as most airports are located in major cities

– Monetary benefits
• http://incomopedia.com/air-traffic-controller-salary-india-aai-atc-salary/
– Social Stature
– Job Security as compared to other jobs in aviation sector
– Medical Benefits of being an employee of Airports Authority of India
– Job Satisfaction!!!
• Cons
– Transferrable Job nature
– Shift Duties (24 hours) disturbs Circadian rhythm (body clock).
– Stress
– Fatigue
 How To Become an ATCO?

• Airports Authority of India is the sole Air Navigation Service

Provider(ANSP) in India.
• One of the rapidly growing and profitable Mini Ratna PSU
• Authority recruits ATCOs through written test followed by voice test
and interview.
• Check https://www.aai.aero/en/careers/recruitment for career
opportunities.
• For more information on cracking written exam visit
http://incomopedia.com/aai-atc-exam-syllabus-pattern-written-test/
• https://prashantchaturvedi.com/aai-je-exam-online-classes/
Queries

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Thank you