AAI to implement upper airspace harmonisation in Kolkata FIR

The Airports Authority of India on Sunday said it will soon implement upper airspace harmonisation in Kolkata FIR (flight information region) as part of the safety and air navigation services improvement project.

The decision was taken after a review meeting of the airports functioning by the civil aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa in New Delhi, an official release said.

Once implemented, it will bring improvement in ATM operational efficiency, safety of aircraft operations, fuel efficiency and savings in operating cost for airlines, and reduction in pilot/controller workload, AAI said.

The project include state-of-the-art integrated ATS automation system, integration of multiple radar and ADS-B sensors, airspace restructuring with multiple sectors and remote operation of VHF from Kolkata using IP based voice communication control system, the national airports body said. AAI has already successfully implemented this concept in Chennai FIR, which is part of its initiative towards establishing a single continuum of upper airspace, 26,000 ft  and above, it said.

This will facilitate uniform application of separation standards and procedures with significant benefits including enhanced safety and operational efficiency, AAI said.

The integrated automation System provides adequate safety nets in the form of conflict alerts, minimum safe altitude warning to the controller, advanced decision support tools and improved HMI enabling faster decision-making and conflict resolution by the Controller.

This system has been successfully installed and operationalised at 38 medium and small airports besides those in the metro cities.

Integration of nine radars of different manufacturers and eight ADS- B located across the region into the automation system has been completed and the surveillance picture of all the aircraft in the Eastern region is seen at Kolkata ATC Centre, the release said.

Also, the installation of ADS-B has already been completed by AAI at 21 sites to complement the existing network of radars for ensuring seamless surveillance across the entire continental and oceanic airspace, the release said.