Upgraded ATC system may yield little benefit

“We’re basically upgrading our server memory and its processing power. It’s an improved version of AutoTrac II but there won’t be any tangible benefit as it’s like improving your personal interface. Without the ‘Arrival Manager’,pilots will not gauge any difference in our services and things will be as they were,” said a senior AAI official.

The ATC has 204 controllers against the sanctioned 280. “Even if we were to start Arrival Manager,there would be a need of at least 30 more controllers,” said the official. However,General Manager,Mumbai ATC,MG Jhungare,said non-inclusion of the ‘Arrival Manager’ was not because of shortage of air traffic controllers. “We’re implementing basic features now. Other features will be added susbsequently,” he said.

AutoTrac is a fully integrated open-architecture software that uses commercial hardware and is sourced from Massachusetts-based defence major Raytheon Systems. It integrates radar and flight plan data. The new system is aimed at increasing air traffic controllers’ productivity and reducing controller fatigue. However,according to airport officials,due to ground constraints at the airport,the system per se will not be of much help and what would have really improved ATC’s services was the ‘Arrival Manager’.

Officials also added that the new system would require specialised training of staff.

The Arrival Manager primarily lists arrivals and updates all aircraft movements real time on radar. And in case of ‘bunching’ of flights,it issues speedy revisions to all approaching aircraft.

Officials say the only ‘real’ enhancement is that the new system has medium-term collision detection alert whereas the earlier system had short-term collision detection alert. These will alert aircraft breaching the minimum separation gap either vertically or horizontally.