‘India conducts Asia’s first demo of performance-based navigation for copters’

The technology was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Airports Authority of India.

India conducted Asia’s first demonstration of performance-based navigation for helicopters for a flight from Juhu in Mumbai to Pune using GAGAN satellite technology, civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday.

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said it is a fine example of the “Indian aviation sector blazing a trail in innovation!” (ANI)

GAGAN — GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation — is a state-of-the-art space-based augmentation system which adds more accuracy to output of GPS Navigation system by providing local geographical positioning for better accuracy of location of aircraft for more efficient traffic management.

The technology was jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Scindia said it is a fine example of the “Indian aviation sector blazing a trail in innovation!”

He added, “India conducts Asia’s first demonstration for Performance-Based Navigation for helicopters. The flight from Juhu to Pune made use of the #GAGAN satellite technology that enhances accuracy, allowing for high quality air traffic management. Congratulations @AAI_Official.”

“The test flight operated between Mumbai and Pune was facilitated by the Juhu airport officials,” an AAI official told HT. “The outcomes, however, will be studied further.”

Experts termed the development “a big leap” for Indian aviation sector.

“Helicopters which fly at much lower levels are always at risk for locational inaccuracy specially in case of accidents for search and rescue operations. Now, they have successfully completed trials, which a big leap for Indian aviation sector,” said former defence pilot and aviation expert Vipul Saxena. “This will enhance better traffic management of both aircraft and helicopters in Indian air space.”