Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel Thursday told parliament that the government has approved a proposal to create a separate Air Navigation Service (ANS) to look after the air traffic in the country.

“The government has approved the proposal to hive off air navigation system (ANS) as a government entity in a two-step process,” Patel informed the Lok Sabha in a reply to a question.

In the first step, all air traffic activity would come under the new organisation which would be independent of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The move, as part of a 2007 restructuring plan, would see ANS become a specialized and more efficient service branch like the US Federation Aviation Administration (FAA).

Currently, the air navigation comes under the purview of the AAI and has 1,962 air traffic controllers.

Patel said that his ministry was working on modernisation of ATC systems and procedures in the country.

“Modernisation of ATC system at Delhi and Mumbai already implemented. Uni-directional ATS routes have been implemented in Delhi terminal control area. A post of member (ANS) has been filled up in AAI,” Patel said.

He said these were the recommendations about ATCs by the inquiry into the 1996 midair collision over Charki-Dadri village in Haryana.

Patel also said that the new body would be more efficient as it would have autonomy for decision making, focus on human resource and training with optimisation of airspace and improved ATC procedures, as well as development of next generation air navigation system in India.

Countries like Australia, the US, Britain, France and Spain have similar organisations, he said.