Welcome to the fifth episode of the Tower Tales where we bring you the untold stories of military air traffic controllers. In this conversation host Mahesh Sharma interviews Group Captain N Krishnamurthy, an octogenarian veteran air traffic controller, who shares his experiences and insights. He discusses his love for sports, especially table tennis, which led him to join the Air Force. He recounts his experiences during the 1965 war and the challenges faced by air traffic controllers at that time. He also talks about his role in inducting new transportable radar systems and the importance of transparency and curiosity in the field. He shares a memorable incident where he had to guide a formation of four Gnat ac to safety after he realised that they were not on the intended path to destination. Overall, he emphasises the attributes of a good controller, including appreciation, anticipation, reaction, and the ability to foresee and prevent potential issues.

Takeaways:

• During the 1965 war, air traffic controllers faced challenges in managing the airspace

• Implementing new radar systems, such as the transportable GCA, improved air traffic control capabilities.

• Transparency and curiosity are important attributes for air traffic controllers, as they need to be able to relate trends, see patterns, and share knowledge.

• A good controller should have attributes like appreciation, anticipation, reaction, and the ability to foresee and prevent potential issues.

Milestones

03:14 Life and Times as an ATC Officer

04:56 Joining the Air Force and Love for Sports

05:42 Commissioning and Posting during the 1965 War

06:52 ATC Operations during the War

15:50 Role as a CO of a Transportable GCA

19:44 Work as an Examiner in ATC DASI

23:27 Getting the Proficiency Badge for ATCOs

24:49 Challenging Incident as a DATCO at Hindon

26:04 The Power of Curiosity and Inquisitiveness

35:56 Proactive Thinking and Quick Decision-Making