Concerns raised by air traffic controllers about underperforming automation systems preceded a recent major technical glitch at Delhi Airport. As early as July, the Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild of India warned of ‘performance degradation,’ citing frequent lags and slowdowns at key airports, including Delhi and Mumbai.
The Guild’s July communication to aviation authorities stressed the imperative for India’s systems to meet global benchmarks. They pointed to leading international bodies like Eurocontrol and the FAA, advocating for the adoption of predictive technologies, AI for conflict detection, and robust real-time data exchange.
In response to the Friday afternoon glitch, which extended into Saturday and impacted 46 flights, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation undertook an on-site review at the Delhi ATC Tower. The minister mandated a comprehensive root-cause investigation and an enhancement of system redundancy measures. Teams from AAI, ANS, and ECIL worked diligently to restore full functionality, ensuring passenger safety was paramount throughout the incident via manual air traffic management.