Need to modernise CNS systems across major airports: AAI's electronics engineers body tells govt

Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) State-owned AAI's electronic engineers' body ATSEPA has sought immediate modernisation of critical communication, navigation and surveillance systems across major airports in the backdrop of air traffic control system issues impacting flight operations at the Delhi airport last week.

Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) are the main functions of Air Navigation Services (ANS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM). These critical functions are provided by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

In an email communication to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, the Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel Association (ATSEPA) India also alleged that despite early warnings, proposals, and continuous representations, CNS system upgradation, redundancy creation, and proper deployment of trained engineers have not been taken up with the urgency required for a 24X7 essential aviation service.

The communication comes amid air traffic services disruptions at GMR Group-run Delhi International Airport last week, where hundreds of flights were affected due to a glitch in the ATC messaging system.

"The recent operational disruptions at Delhi airport have once again highlighted a long-standing and serious concern repeatedly raised by ATSEPA (INDIA), the neglect of CNS infrastructure and the continuous sidelining of technical inputs provided by CNS engineers to AAI leadership," the association's office bearer Yogendra Gautam said in the communication, with copies marked to Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and AAI Chairman Vipin Kumar.

The association also urged the government to direct the AAI to incorporate CNS engineers' recommendations while procuring or upgrading operational systems and ensure optimal utilisation of CNS manpower, avoiding their diversion to non-CNS roles.

Along with this, there is also a need to "review ATM operational practices, where reluctance to manual fallback and over-dependence on outdated automation have led to avoidable errors", the association said in the communication.

Aviation safety today, ATSEPA said, requires strong technology, competent technical manpower, and modern systems and not "expansion of supervisory posts".

Claiming that the crisis originated at the Delhi airport from outdated systems, such as the Automated Message Switching System (AMSS) that lacks redundancy and modern capability, the association alleged that instead of acknowledging these "core issues", public attention has been misdirected toward ATCO (Air Traffic Controller) manpower, despite having sufficient strength.

"A critical concern observed during recent disruptions is that ATCOs remain heavily dependent on automated systems, and even in failure scenarios, manual fallback is often resisted or inadequately executed, leading to the accumulation of errors and operational delays. This is a direct consequence of over-reliance on automation without parallel strengthening of CNS infrastructure, manual procedures, and technical preparedness," it said.

According to the association, AAI currently deploys highly trained CNS engineers in many non-technical or low-utility postings, while critical stations face shortages.

"For a modern aviation system, it is essential that CNS engineers are deployed strictly for CNS functions and their technical inputs are incorporated at the planning and procurement stage. Modernised systems and redundancy are provided on priority, and training and skill-building are enhanced at par with global standards," the association said.

On November 7, the technical problem with the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which supports the air traffic control's flight planning process, resulted in delays of more than 800 flights and cancellation of 46 flights at the Delhi airport, which is the country's busiest airport.

"Owing to the coordinated efforts of ECIL engineers, ATC (Air Traffic Control) personnel, and the ministry's proactive monitoring, the system was fully restored to automatic mode by the afternoon of November 8.

"There were no flight cancellations today owing to the issue," the civil aviation ministry said in a statement on November 8.

The systems are from Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL).

Naidu has directed officials to carry out a detailed root-cause analysis of the technical glitch at the Delhi airport's air traffic control system and to put in place backup servers to boost operations. PTI IAS RAM BAL BAL