Gagan to make air space safer

Indian skies are set to become safer and the aviation sector can look forward to achieving greater efficiency in the near future.

US aerospace and defence-systems giant Raytheon has successfully completed the preliminary system-acceptance tests for GAGAN-TDS (GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation-Technology Demonstration System) -- a space-based navigation programme sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

On Tuesday, making this announcement at Farnborough, outside London, Raytheon said the system functioned properly and exceeded the accuracy requirements. GAGAN will meet the Indian aviation industry's emerging needs in a broad spectrum of areas like communication, navigation, surveillance and air-traffic management.

Andy Zogg, vice-president of Raytheon's Airspace Management and Homeland Security business, told HT at the Farnborough International Airshow 2006, “The ground elements supplied by us for this project have been installed and integrated ahead of schedule. We'll now work with Isro to integrate the systems on the ground to a geosynchronous satellite.”

During the test period, the average accuracy was better than 1 metre horizontally and only slightly more than 1 metre vertically, thus surpassing the 7.6 metre requirement.A regional augmentation based on the US military's GPS, GAGAN will usher in a new era in civil navigation and bring about greater efficiency and safety for aircraft across the 110 AAI airports.

India's own augmented satellite-based navigation system for smooth air traffic will also ensure better communication with ground control, increased landing safety, timely warning and fewer collisions. Zogg said the technology would enhance navigation in all phases of flight from take-off through landing.

The Rs 300-crore project is being implemented in three phases through 2008 with Raytheon's technology and space support.