Air traffic controllers are planning to lodge a formal complaint with the DGCA that several pilots are not observing speed limits while coming in to land at airports, resulting in more frequent “go arounds” and more work pressure on the already overburdened ATCs.
The complaint is likely to be lodged soon with the DGCA by the ATC Guild which represents ATCs who number more then 1,600 across the country. “We have received feedback from the ATCs that there are many pilots who are not adhering to the speed limits to be maintained while coming in to land. Some of the pilots are also dropping altitude beyond acceptable levels while coming in to land whereas the descent should be gradual. We will be bringing this to the notice of the DGCA,” said a source.
ATC sources said it has often been observed by ATCs that pilots who exceed speed limits while coming in to land suddenly realise that they may overshoot the runway and decide to “go around” over the airport once again in order to make another attempt to land. The sources made it clear they were not challenging the discretion of pilots to decide when to “go around” provided rules are followed. “If the pilots are following the speed limits while making the landing approach but still decide to ‘go around’, we have no problem but this is not the case,” said the source.