CAAN sources say the number of airport assistants drawing salary from the aviation regulator is 44 percent less than the approved posts. CAAN that looks after 53 airports across the country has just 35 airport assistants at present and nearly half of them are attending training. [break]
Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, deputy director general of CAAN, said the shortage of workforce has not only increased workload on existing employees but has also led to delays and cancellation of domestic flights. He said 19 airport assistants are attending a year-long training which will complete on October.
Due to shortage of workforce, airport assistants are working as airport chiefs, who are level six employees, in CAAN organizational structure. Airport chiefs function the responsibility of air traffic controllers is several remote districts. CAAN has failed to depute airport assistants at Kageldanda and Ramechhap due to severe shortage of workforce.
To address the shortage of workforce, CAAN is planning to recruit fresh employees in the coming fiscal year. Suman said the aviation regulator will recruit 15 more airport assistants on free competition.
Almost 20 percent of approved posts at CAAN are lying vacant, Suman added.
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