New Delhi, January 10 (IANS). Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the body that investigates air accidents, has suggested that there should be video recording of activities inside all ATC towers present at international airports in the country, so that in case of any accident, investigators can investigate the activities of Air Traffic Controllers (ATC).
The move follows the AAIB’s investigation into a runway incident that occurred at the Delhi airport in November last year, when a plane operated by Ariana Afghan Airlines landed on an unauthorized runway at the national capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to reports, the aviation accident regulator under the civil aviation ministry said the move will significantly strengthen safety oversight and post-accident investigation.
It also states that ATC towers located at international airports should have systems that can record video as well as background communication happening inside the control room.
According to the AAIB, this data will be important in understanding the controller’s decision-making process and reconstructing events during unusual or high-risk situations.
Such recordings should be made available for scrutiny by both the AAIB and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
“Analysis of controller actions after any incident or accident is a safety-related recommendation and needs to be implemented on priority basis at the country’s international airports,” the AAIB report said.
The AAIB said it had already recorded the initial statements of the flight crew and air traffic controllers involved in the November incident.
Additionally, approach radar recordings, as well as ATC communication transcripts, were acquired for further technical analysis. The investigation into the incident of straying from the runway is ongoing.
Although the initial report did not hold anyone responsible, this recommendation reflects an increased regulatory focus on the use of technology-based surveillance tools to improve aviation safety and accountability.
Additionally, the scope of the investigation has also been expanded to include statements from crews on other scheduled flights operating in the vicinity at the time of the incident.
–IANS
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