Boeing has completed a comprehensive 10-year Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) modernisation roadmap for the Airports Authority of India (AAI), undertaken with a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
The airframer said that it conducted a comprehensive analysis across operational, environmental, regulatory, technological, safety, and financial factors to develop and present AAI with a roadmap it can use as guidance for its plans to modernise the Indian National Airspace System.
AAI’s modernisation plans will ensure that communication, navigation, surveillance, and capacity and traffic management of India’s airspace will be aligned with global best standards.
Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman, AAI said that the roadmap would drive operational excellence and offer enhanced air traffic capacity for the flying public. Improved navigation, communication, and surveillance would make Indian skies seamless and safer to operate in he said.
‘This is a proud moment for us at Boeing, as we develop and present a comprehensive roadmap to AAI to be leveraged as national guidance in helping improve airspace utilisation, and maintain safe and efficient aircraft operations, ‘said Ahmed Elsherbini, managing director, Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center, and chief engineer, Boeing India.
Boeing worked closely with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airlines operating in India, airport operators, and other airspace stakeholders under the US-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) as part of the project.
Boeing and AAI had inked an agreement in 2019 to jointly develop a comprehensive 10-year roadmap for modernising Air Traffic Management in India, backed by the USTDA. As part of the project,
AAI provides Air Traffic Management Services over the entire Indian air space and adjoining oceanic areas covering 2.8 million Sq. NM and ANS infrastructure such as Air Traffic Services (ATS) Automation Systems at the airports, Surveillance Systems (RADAR/MLAT/ADS-B/SB-ADS-B), Communication equipment, Navigational Aids like Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), DVOR/DME.
AAI operates 44 ATM Automation Systems at different airports, one Centralised Air Traffic Flow Management Centre at Delhi, 48 surveillance radars and 22 Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B) sensors.