Pilots are from MARS and ATC Controllers from VENUS”. They can never be friends. This is what was told to me when I reported for my fist flight plan clearance at Jaipur ATC by a Senior Air Traffic Controller. Undaunted by the remark, I decided to prove him wrong. Two years have passed since  and the same ATC officer is the best friend that I have in the station today. Needless to add that I do not wish to mention his name here. Reflecting back the big question that arises in my mind is why do differences crop up between pilots and Air traffic controllers when both are two important un separable of the system and contribute to safe operations in the sky. Listed below are a few Grey areas which need to be addressed.

 

 

The Basic Training : The pilots are imparted their training at the flying schools and Air traffic Controllers get their  training at their designated training centers. While the pilot aspires to become Pilot in command, he slowly gets into an aura of confidence that he is the superman  in the air. The controller as he aspires and achieves his ratings feels that he has conquered both the ground and the skies. There is no mutual interaction between the two. The Air traffic controller never gets a chance to keep into the flying culture of the pilots and the pilots never ever see the manuals and rules that Air traffic Controller are taught to follow like their sweet “Bible”. No wonder then a pilot more so with previous defense background fails to understand why a controller is not permitting descent when there are just three air crafts approaching the air field. It is very important that the pilots go through the “Bibles” of Air traffic Controllers and understand their limitations, more so  when there is no radar equipment at a controlled air field. Similarly the Air traffic Controllers should have planned visits to Air crafts on Tarmac and flying familiarization visits in the cockpit.  This is to make them aware of some of the pilot processes, apprehensions, experience and limitations, at times some of which may be safety related.

 

 

INTERACTION AT ALL LEVELS: While the Airport  Director and the Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation i.e. the two heads of department may meet and discuss the conceived issues amicably, the interaction is required at all functional levels to have a cohesive working atmosphere. For this purpose common seminars, interactive sessions and get togethers  are suggested . Merely inviting  the head of Organisation for  any function is not enough there should be a mix of formal and informal sessions with more representation from all the parties. 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: The Air traffic control organization and Rajasthan Air corporation both being government organization the resources are limited.  To induct and in corporate new systems, equipment and manpower, a lot of dedicated effort and paper work is required .the results may not yet be forth  coming immediately but  this is  the limitation which should be under stood both by pilots and the air traffic controllers. To say that at Palam there is no delay and a particular system which is smooth and user friendly is fine but due limitations the same cannot be incorporated at Jaipur. Similarly to demand that a flight dispatcher post should be created at Rajasthan Air Corporation akin to what regular airlines have is perhaps demanding too much from a small General Aviation Organisation.

THEY STAND BY EACH OTHER WHEN NEEDED: A cordial atmosphere of co-operation and cohesion is more important. In stead of insisting in what the other person should do or should have done, the need of the hour is-''we stand by each other when needed ''. If the ATC controller is busy on RT and his hand is full, the pilot may take on the task of getting ADC number from MLU or may even take the FIC. If the pilot gets cornered due paucity of time and there be a VVIP/VIP commitment , the ATC controller may expedite the obtaining of FIC/ADC with out insisting on the submission of plan at least 30 minutes before flight. 

AND WHEN DIFFERENCES DO ARISE :

Any given task can be achieving in a number of ways. There are bound to be differences in achieving the same task. Similarly, there will be numerous occasions when air traffic controller and pilots may differ in execution of flying tasks. In such a contingency it is best to sit down and clarify the differences without stressing on personality based issues. If the goal is common i.e. ''Flight Safety'' differences are bound to dissolve whenever egos are shed. 

THE FINAL WORD : A person with positive approach is bound to spread "SUNSHINE" and mark my words it is ‘’Contagious’. With more people joining the positive stream ,negativity is bound to disappear. To all you readers irrespective of  whether you are a pilot , air traffic controller or from  some other flying  associated jobs, my request to you is to  spread the word around “ We are ONE".