Kochi: International Women’s Day took off in a special way at the Cochin international airport on Tuesday with the all important Air Traffic Control (ATC) wing at the airport turning a woman’s forte. A total of 10 women manned the ATC while nine women controlled the Communication Navigation Surveillance (CNS) section operated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) from 7 am to 1 pm.
Manning ATC is supposed to be one of the toughest tasks in the world. The personnel here have to give proper directions to the flights criss-crossing the air so as to let them fly safely. Flights are controlled on the runway also by the ATC.
Those manning the section have to analyse the air traffic situation and take decisions quickly and implement them. They have been trained in emergency landing also. They have to listen, see, think and speak at the same time.
The 19 staff controlled the landing and take-off of 100 odd flights at the Cochin airport till Tuesday noon. They also controlled the landing and take-off of flights at Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Sulur and Kochi Naval airport.
The technical aspect and safety related to the flying are the responsibility of CNS which also controls the radar and the Instrument Landing System. The work in the wing also demands high skills and concentration and several women work there in different airports.
