The Air Traffic Controllers’ profession is really an unique one. It is a highly specialized profession where in guidance is provided to the pilots on all aspects which affect his flight in air and on ground. It is from the time a pilot is ready to switch on his engines, till the time he switches off again, the Air Traffic Controller keeps a surveillance on the progress of the flight, giving positive and concise instructions at every stage of flight progress to ensure a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic in the skies. A pilot is responsible for only his aircraft and its safety whereas the Air Traffic Controller is responsible for all the pilots and their so many aircraft criss-crossing the skies. The Air Traffic Controller is that person who is responsible at each stage of the flight for ensuring that there is not even a remote chance of collision of aircraft with other aircraft or obstructions and best use in made of the airspace in the context of ever increasing air traffic. The Air Traffic Controller follows conscientiously all norms and standards laid down by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) from time to time, provides assistance to aircraft in need of search and rescue and in grave emergencies and contingencies like hijacking etc.

On the 20^th of October, the International Air Traffic Controllers’ Day, let us salute these professionals who are really the soul of all airports. These professionals whom we seldom meet as we traverse through our airports, who are those nameless, faceless heroes whose only relationship is with the pilots and the aircraft and their safe, orderly and expeditious movements in the skies and on ground.

" I am pleased to know that the Air Traffic Controllers' at Jaipur are launching website on Air Traffic Controllers' Day on 22d October, 2005. This initiative brings the global community together for sharing the experiences and new ideas. This approach indeed is futuristic. Please accept my congratulations on launching the website."