CNS officers at AAI claim lateral recruitment at managerial level to compromise air safety

All officers of Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS) department at Airport Authority of India (AAI) will go on week-long protest from Saturday wearing black badge against the management decision to hire managerial level recruits directly from the open exam.

The officials said that this will compromise the air travel safety and operations with less qualified engineers recruited directly through an open exam. Normally, the hiring takes place at junior executive level (through GATE) entrance test after which it follows the career progression.

The officials said air traffic department too had similar hiring process but was discontinued later when it's danger was brought to the notice of management. The CNS staffer went ahead with their protest after meeting with the management did not yield any result.

"Manager cadre engineering degree with 5-year relevant experience is not available in the open market as CNS job is specialised like ATC. Hence we don't want air safety to get compromised" said a CNS official.