Last Updated: 17 September 2026
AAI Consultant Recruitment 2026 Overview
The Airports Authority of India (AAI), a Government of India Public Sector Enterprise constituted by an Act of Parliament, has released Advertisement No. 14/2026/CHQ/SSCOs for the engagement of Retired Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs) of the Indian Armed Forces as Consultants on contract basis. Moreover, the engagement is being made for a period of one (01) year to provide support to the Air Traffic Services Unit at Joint User Defence Airfields across the country.
Specifically, the consultants will provide operational support in ATC operations, Surface Movement Control (SMC), watch extension and other ATC-related activities at the concerned Joint User Defence Airfield. Furthermore, applications are invited from retired officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard who have the requisite ATC qualification and experience. The total number of vacancies is 39 across six airfields, namely Pune, Kanpur, Purnea, Goa (Dabolim), Port Blair and Darbhanga.
| Conducting Body | Airports Authority of India (AAI) – Mini Ratna Category-1 |
| Advertisement No. | 14/2026/CHQ/SSCOs |
| Post | Consultant – Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs) |
| Total Vacancies | 39 |
| Eligible Candidates | Retired SSCOs of Indian Army / Navy / Air Force / Coast Guard |
| Application Mode | By e-mail only at chqrectt@aai.aero |
| Official Website | https://www.aai.aero |
39 Vacancies | Contract for 1 Year (Extendable up to 5 Years) | Max Age 50 Years | ATC Experience Required | Application by Email Only | No Application Fee
Important Dates
Candidates must carefully note the following important dates. Specifically, applications are being accepted only through the e-mail ID mentioned in the advertisement. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended to submit the application well before the closing date to avoid any last-minute technical issues with email delivery.
| Opening Date for Submission of Applications | 17.09.2026 |
| Last Date for Submission of Application | 01.10.2026 |
| Schedule for Interview | Will be intimated later on the registered e-mail IDs of shortlisted candidate(s) |
| E-mail ID for Applications | chqrectt@aai.aero |
AAI Consultant Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details
The requirement of Consultants is location-wise as indicated below. Moreover, candidates should note that the location of deployment for Goa (Dabolim) and Pune airports includes specified duties such as Surface Movement Control (SMC) and Air Traffic Control (ATC).
| Post Code | Location | No. of Consultants | Nature of Duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pune Airport | 11 | For Surface Movement Control (SMC) |
| 02 | Kanpur Airport | 02 | ATC Support |
| 03 | Purnea Airport | 04 | ATC Support |
| 04 | Goa (Dabolim) Airport | 15 | 11 for SMC + 04 for ATC |
| 05 | Port Blair Airport | 04 | For Surface Movement Control (SMC) |
| 06 | Darbhanga Airport | 03 | ATC Support |
| Total | 39 | - | |
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Educational Qualification: Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Professional Qualification: Basic ATC Course / ATM and AL (Basic) and GCA/ATSS Course.
- Services: Retired Short Service Commission Officers of Indian Army / Indian Navy / Indian Air Force / Indian Coast Guard.
Required Experience
The candidate should have undertaken ATC duties for a minimum of 05 years (Cumulative) with at least one year of ATC duties at a Joint User Defence Airfield.
Maximum Age Limit
The applicant should not be more than 50 years of age as on the last date for submission of application i.e. 01.10.2026. Additionally, the period between the date of retirement from the Indian Army / Indian Navy / Indian Air Force / Indian Coast Guard and the last date for submission of application should not exceed six (06) years.
Monthly Remuneration & Allowances
Monthly Remuneration (All Inclusive)
As per DoPT OM F.No. 3-25/2020-E.IIIA dated 09/12/2020, a fixed monthly amount shall be admissible, arrived at by deducting the basic pension from the pay drawn at the time of retirement. The amount of remuneration so fixed shall remain unchanged for the term of the contract. There will be no annual increment / percentage increase during the contract period.
AAI Consultant Recruitment 2026 Allowances
- HRA: House Rent Allowance is NOT admissible (Para 7.1 of the DoPT OM).
- Transport Allowance: An appropriate and fixed amount for the purpose of commuting between the residence and the place of work shall be allowed, not exceeding the rate applicable to the appointee at the time of retirement (Para 7.2).
- TA/DA on Official Tour: Retired employees engaged as consultants may be allowed TA/DA on official tour, if any, as per their entitlement at the time of retirement.
- Tax: TDS will be deducted at source from the consultancy remuneration.
Travel, Medical Clearance & Service Incurred Risks
AAI may require the consultant to submit a Medical Fitness Certificate from a recognised physician equivalent to the medical standards of defence, duly certified by the ATS In-charge of the joint user Defence Airfields where the consultant is likely to be deployed, prior to the commencement of the contract. Moreover, in the event of death or injury or illness of the consultant attributable to the performance of services on behalf of AAI, AAI shall not be responsible for any compensation.
Period of Engagement
The initial engagement of the consultant shall be for a period of one (01) year only, which will be extendable by another one year at a time. The total cumulative period shall not exceed Five years. However, the extension in any case cannot be beyond the maximum age of 55 years.
- The engagement of consultants would be on a full-time basis and they would not be permitted to take up any other assignment during the period of engagement.
- A Contract/Agreement should be drawn up between the selected consultant and AAI specifying the terms and conditions of hiring of consultants as applicable.
- Consultants shall mark attendance daily at their place of reporting/engagement.
Leave Provisions
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Leave Entitlement | 1.5 days for each completed month of service |
| Attendance | Daily attendance at place of reporting/engagement |
| Carry Forward / Encashment | Unavailed leave in a calendar year shall NOT be carried forward nor encashed to the next calendar year |
| Absence Beyond Admissible Leave | Proportionate payment would be deducted from the consultancy remuneration |
| Unauthorised Absence | AAI will be free to terminate services if the consultant remains absent without intimation for more than 3 working days |
Charter of Duties
The nature of duties of the consultants shall be to assist and support Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations at the concerned Joint User Defence Airfield. Moreover, the duties may include support in operational functions such as ATC/SMC operations, watch extension and other ATC-related activities, as assigned by the ATS In-charge from time to time.
How to Apply
Application Mode
Applications should be submitted only in the prescribed format (Annexure-1) to the advertisement, along with self-attested copies of all necessary supporting documents, educational qualifications and work experience, to the e-mail ID chqrectt@aai.aero on or before the closing date i.e. 01.10.2026. Applications through any other mode will NOT be accepted.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1 Download the Application Format – Obtain Annexure-1 (Application Form) from the official AAI advertisement. Fill in all the details as per the prescribed format.
- 2 Gather Supporting Documents – Collect self-attested copies of all necessary documents including educational qualifications (Graduate Certificate), Professional Qualifications (Basic ATC Course / ATM and AL (Basic) and GCA/ATSS Course), and proof of Work Experience (ATC duties for minimum 05 years cumulative with at least 01 year at a Joint User Defence Airfield).
- 3 Combine into a Single PDF – Combine the duly filled-in application form and self-attested supporting documents into a single PDF file. Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
- 4 Send by E-mail – Attach the combined PDF and send it to chqrectt@aai.aero on or before 01.10.2026. Keep the e-mail ID mentioned in the application active, as all future correspondence will be sent by e-mail only.
Selection Process
Only shortlisted applicants (based on eligibility and scrutiny of applications) will be called for Application Verification and Interview. The selection will be based upon the merit ranking of the interview. The schedule for the same will be intimated to shortlisted candidates on their registered e-mail ID.
Why Apply for AAI Consultant (SSCO) Recruitment 2026?
The AAI Consultant engagement offers a suitable opportunity for retired Short Service Commission Officers with an ATC background to continue utilising their professional expertise. Here are the key reasons to apply:
- Specifically, retired SSCOs with ATC experience of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard can continue professional service as Consultants.
- Moreover, a fixed monthly remuneration as per DoPT guidelines, arrived at by deducting basic pension from the pay drawn at retirement.
- Additionally, Transport Allowance for commuting and TA/DA on official tours as per entitlement at the time of retirement.
- Furthermore, engagement of one year on a full-time basis, extendable by one year at a time up to a maximum of five years (not beyond 55 years of age).
- In addition, leave at the rate of 1.5 days for each completed month of service is admissible.
- Notably, no application fee is payable for this engagement.
- Finally, deployments are at Joint User Defence Airfields including Pune, Kanpur, Purnea, Goa (Dabolim), Port Blair and Darbhanga.
39 Vacancies | Last Date: 01 October 2026 | Apply at: chqrectt@aai.aero
Frequently Asked Questions
General Queries
AAI has invited applications for the engagement of Retired Short Service Commission Officers of the Indian Armed Forces (Indian Army / Indian Navy / Indian Air Force / Indian Coast Guard) as Consultants on a contract basis for one year, to provide support to the Air Traffic Services Unit at Joint User Defence Airfields. The advertisement number is 14/2026/CHQ/SSCOs.
There are a total of 39 vacancies across six airports: Pune (11 – SMC), Kanpur (02), Purnea (04), Goa Dabolim (15 – 11 SMC + 04 ATC), Port Blair (04 – SMC) and Darbhanga (03). The details are available in the vacancy table of this article.
The opening date for submission of applications by e-mail is 17 September 2026 and the last date for submission of applications is 01 October 2026. Applications are to be sent to chqrectt@aai.aero only.
Eligibility Queries
Candidates must be retired Short Service Commission Officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force or Indian Coast Guard. They must be graduates in any discipline from a recognised university and must possess Basic ATC Course / ATM and AL (Basic) and GCA/ATSS Course as professional qualification. Additionally, they should have undertaken ATC duties for a minimum of 05 years (cumulative) with at least one year of ATC duties at a Joint User Defence Airfield.
The applicant should not be more than 50 years of age as on 01.10.2026 (the last date for submission of application). Moreover, the period between the date of retirement and the last date of application should not exceed six years. The total cumulative engagement shall not exceed five years and cannot extend beyond the age of 55 years.
Remuneration & Application Queries
As per DoPT OM F.No. 3-25/2020-E.IIIA dated 09/12/2020, a fixed monthly amount shall be admissible, arrived at by deducting the basic pension from the pay drawn at the time of retirement. The remuneration so fixed will remain unchanged for the term of the contract with no annual increment or percentage increase. HRA is not admissible, while a fixed Transport Allowance is payable as applicable.
Applications must be submitted only in the prescribed format (Annexure-1) along with self-attested copies of supporting documents, by e-mail to chqrectt@aai.aero on or before 01.10.2026. The duly filled-in application plus self-attested documents must be combined and attached in a single PDF file not exceeding 5 MB. Applications through any other mode will not be accepted.
No application fee has been prescribed in the advertisement for the AAI Consultant (SSCO) engagement. Moreover, no TA/DA will be paid for attending the Application Verification / Interview or for joining the assignment or during the period of the engagement process.
🚩 Conclusion
Final Thoughts
The AAI Consultant (SSCOs) engagement presents a valuable opportunity for retired Short Service Commission Officers of the Indian Armed Forces with an ATC background to continue providing professional services at Joint User Defence Airfields across India. Moreover, with 39 vacancies across six airports including Pune, Kanpur, Purnea, Goa (Dabolim), Port Blair and Darbhanga, eligible candidates have a good chance of selection through the interview-based merit process.
What to Do Next
Furthermore, eligible retired SSCOs should prepare the prescribed application form (Annexure-1), attach self-attested copies of all educational, professional and experience documents, combine them into a single PDF file within 5 MB, and send it to chqrectt@aai.aero before 01.10.2026. Ensure that the e-mail ID provided in the application remains active, since all further correspondence about shortlisting and interview will be sent by e-mail only.
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⚠ Disclaimer: Please note this article is for informational purposes only and is based on the official AAI Advertisement No. 14/2026/CHQ/SSCOs. Furthermore, candidates are advised to read the official advertisement carefully before applying. Additionally, the information provided is based on official sources; however, the Airports Authority of India reserves the right to upgrade the eligibility criteria, and also reserves the right to cancel/modify/withdraw/postpone this engagement notice. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to https://www.aai.aero.
