Indian airspace management headed for sea change

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Indian airspace management would
undergo a sea change in the next few years with the
implementation of a slew of measures, like a satellite-based
air navigation system, for seamless and cost-effective use of
the skies by civilian and military aircraft.

As part of the steps being taken by various agencies, the
Indian Air Force is already in the process of reviewing the
'Restricted' and 'Dangerous' air zones in a bid to expand
areas for civilian air traffic, official sources said here.

"We are moving ahead step by step. One after the other
recommendations of a high-level technical committee are being
taken up for implementation," the sources said.

When contacted, Director General of Civil Aviation
Kanu Gohain told P.T.I. "as far as we are concerned, we have
implemented the flexi-use of airspace. Now, the next steps in
this direction are being taken by the military authorities."

Two weeks ago, the Union Cabinet had approved the
implementation of G.P.S.-aided Geo Augmented Navigation
(G.A.G.A.N.) system at an estimated cost of Rs. 774 crore to
enable satellite coverage of the entire Indian sky, including
the oceanic airspace around it.

G.A.G.A.N., being developed by the Airports Authority of
India and the Indian Space Research Organisation, would make
India the fourth in the world after the U.S., Japan and the
European Union to have such a system. The G.A.G.A.N. would
depend on 29 satellites giving G.P.S. coverage to provide
seamless navigation to aircraft using the Indian airspace.

The project, to be operationalised by May 2011, would
provide straight-line fuel-efficient routes and precision
approach landings, thereby reducing fuel burn substantially.

G.A.G.A.N. would also improve airport and airspace access
in all-weather conditions and provide precision-landing
approaches to aircraft even at airports, where Instrument
Landing Systems do not exist. It would enhance safety by
enabling use of three-dimensional approach to help the pilots.

I.S.R.O. would put in orbit the navigation payload of
G.S.A.T.-4 satellite, the officials said, adding that orders
have been placed for supply and installation of G.A.G.A.N.'s
ground network, including hardware for eight reference
stations, a Master Control Centre and the uplink stations.

The high-level technical committee, headed by former
Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad, had proposed a Master
Plan for next-generation futuristic Air Navigation Services,
including enhanced flexibility in airspace use by civilian and
military aircraft, the sources said.

It had recommended several steps to strengthen air
traffic control (A.T.C.) systems and procedures, especially at
metro airports, to increase their air traffic handling
capacity. These include implementation of the Required Area
Navigation (R.N.A.V.) and Required Navigation Performance
(R.N.P.) procedures at Mumbai and Delhi, the sources said.

The A.A.I. has already begun the process of putting up
ten radars to help reduce the spacing of aircraft and increase
the capacity of airspace. All radars are to be networked
within this financial year and the ten new Radars would be
operated from Delhi and Mumbai, they added.