RADHAKRISHNA RAO / BANGALORE
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is working on Gagan, the ground segment of India's augmented global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The final system, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will be compatible with the current GNSS and will provide satellite navigation for the entire Asia-Pacific region by 2007.
A memorandum of understanding between AAI and the ISRO signed in 2001 envisages the phased implementation of a space-based augmentation system.
Gagan would ultimately place India with the USA, the CIS countries, Japan and Europe as providers of a system that helps flight operations and has opened new air routes. AAI says: "Many rules will become redundant when an aircraft is able to navigate on its own. This will mean that the pilot will have real-time information on his aircraft's position and that of other aircraft in the vicinity, and will be able to take the shortest route to its destination." AAI is striving for recognition of Gagan by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Four of 20 receivers planned for India have already been established at Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jodhpur, and New Delhi. The first phase of the Gagan would be a technology demonstrator system, expected to be in operation by 2006. It will cover only a small portion of Indian airspace. It will make use of the G-Sat-4 communications satellite planned to be launched by the three-stage Indian-built Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2006. This would be followed by the initial experimental phase and the expansion of the Gagan network to cover all Indian airspace. The final operational phase will be ready by 2007, providing GNSS coverage of Asia-Pacific.
Source: Flight International
