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How to be an Air Traffic
Controller in India |
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What are the basic educational qualifications
(degrees) needed to apply for the civil ATC entrance exam? |
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Engineering degree in Electronics/ Telecommunication/ Radio Engg/
Electrical/ Master’s Degree in Electronics OR equivalent, with First
Class (60% or above) |
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What
is the age limit required to apply for the civil ATC entrance exams? |
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Lower age
limit is 21 years, while the upper age limit is 27 years |
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What are
the kind of questions asked during the civil ATC entrance exams? |
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Written
examination comprising of following 4 papers:
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What are
the passing criteria for the civil ATC entrance exams? |
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Merit based
selection
Standard
reservation policy applies for SC/ST/OBC/Ex-Servicemen |
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Once the
civil ATC entrance exams are cleared, what are the other parameters on
the basis of which candidates are selected? |
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Once a
final batch of candidates are selected, where are they sent for their
further training? |
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Civil
Aviation Training College, Allahabad, UP |
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What is
the duration of this training and what are the various modules studied
and practicals undergone during the training? |
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At present
it is a year-long ab-initio training (Under revision to make it in two
sections of six months each)
Modules:
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What is
the cost of this training? |
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Costs are
borne by the Airports Authority of India - the recruiter |
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Is there
a possibility of a candidate getting disqualified midway through his
training? If so, then on what grounds? |
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Yes, if a
candidate is unable to secure 70% passing marks in two attempts in any
of the modules, he/she gets disqualified |
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Once the
training is complete, what posts are open to these students? |
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Junior
Executive (ATC)
after two years promoted to Assistant Manager
(ATC) |
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Do they
apply for jobs individually? What is the employment-scene like these
days? Do qualified students get jobs easily or unemployment still
prevails? |
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Airports
Authority of India (AAI) is the sole employer of the civil ATCs, in
India (Some small players do exist e.g. HAL and small private airports
who also recruit ATCs mainly from the AAI employees)
The
training is imparted only after recruitment. So if one clears the
training successfully he/she is guaranteed of the job |
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What is
the starting pay scale for ATC officers? |
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During
training, trainees are paid a stipend of INR 7500 pm with free lodging
and boarding at CATC, Allahabad, UP
The pay
scale for Junior Executive (ATC) is INR 8600-250-14600 |
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Is the
job transferable? If so, which authority decides the transfer of an
ATC officer? |
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All India
transferable by the employer (Airports Authority of India) |
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What are
the negative and positive aspects of this profession? |
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Negative:
High stress, Shift duties, Extra work load, Non availability of
leaves, Lack of Social life due strange shift pattern and no standard
festivals' leaves, very high professional risk etc...
Positive: Challenging environment, split second decision making,
independent decisions, Work is not to be carried home etc... |
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What are
the various ranks that an ATC officer can climb through? |
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As the
Indian aviation industry is booming, what is the demand and supply for
and of qualified ATC officers? |
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There is a
shortfall of around 1000 ATC officers in India. Recruitments at the
rate of 100 per year are expected in the coming years |