Engineers flag safety concerns in old ATC system shift to new facility
Times of India | 6 May 2025
123456 Kolkata: A section of engineers in the communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) dept as well as controllers at Kolkata airport have raised apprehensions regarding the proposed relocation of existing air safety systems from the current air traffic navigation (ATN) building to the new ATC tower and technical block. These systems are crucial for maintaining air safety standards.
The automation system plays a vital role in ensuring aviation safety, affecting both local flights and approximately 800 aircraft passing through the Kolkata flight information region (FIR). The Kolkata FIR oversees 18.5 lakh sq km of airspace, comprising 14.7 lakh sq km continental and 3.8 lakh sq km oceanic areas. Air traffic controllers in Kolkata supervise 15 international routes, 37 crossings and 10 converging points.
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The relocation aims to utilise the newly completed ATN complex, operational since Feb 2024, and facilitate the old building's demolition for constructing a new terminal in the airport's expansion phase.
Sources informed TOI about worries regarding the durability of aged systems and equipment and their ability to withstand the relocation. "The system and equipment that are currently in use were purchased around 2012-13. They should have been replaced by now. But with the procurement being delayed, it is now being proposed to relocate the facilities with the old system to the new complex. That may lead to a compromise in safety. We strongly recommend the shift takes place after the new system and equipment is installed," an official said.
The implementation of new systems would require approximately two years, encompassing tender processes, bidder selection, procurement, installation and testing procedures.
The relocation involves multiple facilities, including the seventh-floor tower, third-floor area control, second-floor simulator training facility, ground floor offices (briefing, NOTAM, and Met), CNS department offices across various floors, and administrative sections. Officials highlight significant challenges in relocating the MSSR, used for precise aircraft tracking, and VHF transmitters.