A bird’s eye view of the sky: Executive decision

A bird’s eye view of the sky: Executive decision

“IND AIR 168 CHENNAI RADAR, TURN RIGHT HEADING THREE FIVE FIVE, CLIMB TO FLIGHT LEVEL THREE SIX ZERO. TRAFFIC 10’O CLOCK SAME DIRECTION THREE ZERO MILES JET AIRWAYS BOEING SEVEN THREE SEVEN. MAINTINING FLIGHT LEVEL THREE FOUR ZERO.”

“CHENNAI RADAR IND AIR 168 TRAFFIC ON TEECAAS, HEADING THREE FIVE FIVE CLIMBING TO FLIGHT LEVEL THREE SIX ZERO”


This is the typical conversation heard in the cockpit, while you sip the hot coffee served by the airhostess, relaxing in the comforts of the air-conditioned cabin of the aircraft flying at a height of 30,000 feet. The conversation is between Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and the pilot-in-command. ATC is advising the pilot of the flight IC 168, to turn the direction of the flight to 355 degrees and then climb to a height of 36,000 ft and also he is cautioning the pilot about a traffic viz jet airways Boeing 737 flying at a height of 34000 ft and is just 30 nautical miles (approx 48 km) away in the direction of 10’o clock and is flying in the same direction. The pilot reported that he had monitored the Jet Airways Boeing 737 in his traffic collision Avoidance System and he will comply with the instructions.

Air traffic controller’s tension starts when your tension stops. You will rush to the airport to catch the flight, will hurriedly do the X-ray scanning so that you can check-in fast and after immigration, customs and security checks are done, you will impatiently wait for the boarding. Once you board the flight and fasten the seat belt and feel relaxed. That very moment the air traffic controllers’ tension starts. When the door closes, Pilot informs the ATC that he is ready to start. From that very moment till the aircraft lands and switches off its engine, your flight adds to the already crowded airspace of fast moving aircraft and its safety lies in the hands of the ATC.

The sky is crowded with massive high speed criss-cross moving aircraft which weigh 400000 kg and move at the speed of 1000 kmph, which can not stop in the air or reduce speed considerably while flying. In a day, about five thousand aircraft uses Indian airspace. Because of the high speed, Pilot will get only few seconds to take action to avoid another aircraft which is coming on collision course and this is hardly sufficient. Moreover,. Jet flights which fly at a height of 30000 ft, and above do not fly on visual reference to gound but by means of instruments. Hence a pilot will not even know about other aircraft approaching to it. In the above mentioned case, the aircraft are flying at 800 km per hour, i.e. 140 km per minute. So you can imagine the difference of 48km will be passed in twenty seconds!! You can imagine the speed and reaction time given to the pilot & controllers to react, in case of error.

To add to the complexity entire airspace is not available for civil aviation use. In addition to the sensitive airspaces which are prohibited, there are other airspaces used by space centre for rocket launching. Military, for firing artillery; air force for their flying activities. The airspace is criss-crossed with air routes. International as well as domestic. International routes are used by international flights and domestic routes are used only by domestic flights. Like highways, there are routes with heavy traffic, there are busy junctions where routes converge, and there are routes where maximum facilities like navigational facilities are available.

After reading this one question might have come to your mind. Who is the Air Traffic Controller? If you search in google you will get lot of definitions. But the definition given by Randolph F.Kritzer about profession in Air Traffic Control is very interesting.

“ A profession in which persons of Definable intestinal fortitude; unlimited ability to correlate masses of confusing numbers, figures, rules and statistics both defined and infinite in their change; the caliber and character associated with the most demanding discipline and integrity and resolve to their job unmatched by the vast majority; daily accept with enthusiasm normally associated with pleasure rather than work, the responsibility of insuring the safe passage through unfriendly and crowded skies, the immeasurable assets represented by multi-million dollar aircraft and the multitude of lives contained in these fragile ships of the skies. To be Air traffic controller is to be proud, arrogant, bold and may be a little foolish. But I would not be anything else”.

Yes.. That is the least known profession in the world. But in terms of significance, it’s the most significant one next to doctor’s profession. We also call a movement (either arrival or departure) as “operation”. Its nothing less significant than the one performed by a surgeon. In that operation, the doctor is saving one life, but we have to take care of 800 lives at a time.

You may think why the point is stressed now. Reason is there. October 20th is celebrated as World ATC day; in another words it’s the international day of Air Traffic Controllers.

So next time you board a flight, please remember that not only pilots but also there is one community so called Air Traffic Controllers who ensure your safety in the skies and takes care of you till you land in your destination;
will you do ?