A recent technical glitch at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has ignited concerns among air traffic professionals, who are urgently calling for the modernization of communication, navigation, and surveillance systems at major Indian airports. The incident, which occurred on Thursday and Friday, led to the delay of over 800 flights, impacting more than 100,000 passengers.
The disruption was triggered by a technical issue within the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which is crucial for transmitting flight plan data to air traffic controllers. The failure of the AMSS forced controllers to switch to manual procedures, significantly slowing down operations. IGIA typically handles around 1,500 aircraft movements daily, and the sudden switch to manual processing created substantial delays in both arrivals and departures.
The Air Traffic Controllers' Guild of India had previously warned about the "performance degradation" of systems at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai, highlighting issues such as slowness and system lags that affect operational efficiency and safety margins. These concerns, raised in July, underscore the critical need for upgrades to prevent future disruptions.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to implement a new Air Traffic Services Message Handling System (AMHS) within 90 days. This new system will replace the existing software that has been plagued with recurring problems. The Aviation Minister has also ordered a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the glitch and has called for the establishment of additional fallback servers to bolster ATC operations.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha visited the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) center, demonstrating the government's commitment to resolving the issue. They stayed at the center until 2 am on Friday night and returned on Saturday evening to monitor the situation.
In addition to system upgrades, the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild has also raised concerns about basic amenities, such as the lack of tea or coffee vending machines in the control tower during night shifts. The Aviation Secretary promptly approved this request, highlighting the importance of addressing the needs of air traffic controllers who work tirelessly to ensure safe air travel.
Normal flight operations at IGIA resumed late Friday after the AMSS system was restored. The airport authority issued an advisory confirming that operations were returning to normal and advised passengers to stay in touch with their airlines for the latest flight updates. The AAI acknowledged the technical issue on social media, stating that the AMSS systems were up and functional and that they were working to address any remaining backlogs.
The recent ATC glitch at IGIA serves as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in modernizing air traffic control infrastructure. The incident not only caused significant inconvenience to passengers but also raised concerns about the potential impact on safety. As the aviation industry continues to grow, it is imperative that India's airports are equipped with the latest technology and infrastructure to ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic. The swift action taken by the government and the AAI to address the issue and implement upgrades is a positive step, but continued vigilance and investment will be crucial to prevent similar incidents in the future.
