The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is set to implement Aireon’s air traffic surveillance service in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata’s oceanic airspaces, a area of over six million square kilometers. Full implementation of the space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), is set for year’s end.
Real-time air traffic surveillance over the busy routes between South East Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe and beyond will significantly increase efficiency and improve transitions between oceanic and domestic airspace.
Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI said, “The decision to implement Aireon’s technology is not only a major step in improving safety and enhancing capacity for our flying public, but also ensures that as one of the globe’s fastest growing markets, we are planning for our continued growth. AAI will be the first Air Navigation Service Provider in the region to implement a technological initiative, on this scale, and offer enhanced air traffic surveillance services to its users.”
India has become the third largest aviation market in the world with a rate of sustained double-digit growth for the last 50 months. Forecasts suggest that the growth will continue, and Indian airspace is going to experience an imminent need for additional capacity.
Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon said, “AAI’s leadership and approach to technology and safety is ensuring that one of the world’s busiest airspaces continues to be one of the safest. We are excited that AAI will be the first in the region to deploy this capability and we look forward to this partnership to improve safety and efficiency in Indian airspace.”
India will join 26 other countries who are actively deploying Aireon’s space-based ADS-B for air traffic surveillance.