Kannur: Air traffic at Kannur International Airport will be in the safe hands of the natives. When the first flight takes off, it will be controlled by three Kannur natives, including a woman.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) air traffic control deputy GM G. Pradeep Kumar, assistant GM Sreelesh Sreedharan, and junior executive P.V. Hridya are excited about their responsibility.
''No doubt, it will be a proud and emotional moment,'' said Mr. Pradeep Kumar, who also heads the overall operations of air traffic services at the airport. A native of Pervaoor near Iritty, Mr Pradeep Kumar joined AAI in 1988 and has served at Mumbai, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Coimbatore airports.
Mr. Pradeep has been stationed in Kannur for the last two years after AAI entrusted him with the responsibility of setting up air traffic-related facilities.
According to Mr. Pradeep, he has an emotional bond with Kannur airport as he was unofficially involved in the feasibility study carried out by the AAI in the late 1990s for the airport. Mr. Pradeep is experienced in airside operations and terminal management also.
Air traffic control assistant GM Sreelesh Sreedharan belongs to Patiam. Mr. Sreelesh was previously serving at Mangalore airport. "I am lucky to be part of air traffic control of the airport in my home town,'' said Mr. Sreelesh. Besides Mangalore, he has served at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram ATCs. He was also an instructor at Mangalore. In Kannur he is an instructor - cum- controller.
Junior air traffic control executive P. V. Hridya from Dharmasala, Kannur, joined AAI in 2016 and has served at Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore airports.
