AAI-ISRO’s world-class Gagan navigation system launched

The GAGAN facility was launched on Monday in the capital by Minister of Civil Aviation P Ashok 

Gajapathi Raju in the presence of R N Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation, M Sathiyavathy, Director General, DGCA, R K Srivastava Chairman, AAI and Y V N Krishnamurthy, Scientific Secretary, ISRO.  On this occasion HMCA handed over the Completion Certificate to the Chairman, AAI.  

Speaking on the occasion P Ashok Gajapathi Raju,  dwelled upon popularising the system amongst the neighboring countries and other countries in the catchment area.  He also emphasised the need for meeting to the end users to further popularise the system. “We shall promote the use of GAGAN services not only for the Civil Aviation rather for broaderlogistics services so that efficiency and reliability of logistics and other industries are equally benefitted from this technology,” he said. 

So far as, Civil Aviation is concerned, GAGAN is the first SBAS in the world certified for approach with Vertical Guidance operating in the Equatorial Ionospheric Region and it is the third SBAS who have achieved feat after WAAS of USA, EGNOS of Europe and MSAS of Japan. All present complemented the AAI & ISRO Teams on this meritorious achievement and added that nation is proud on launch of this facility.

GAGAN is the first SBAS in the world certified for Approach with Vertical Guidance operating in the Equatorial Ionospheric Region and the third SBAS to have achieved this feat after WAAS of USA and EGNOS of Europe. MSAS of Japan is currently certified for only lateral navigation. GAGAN is an Indian effort towards establishing Satellite Based Augmentation System over the Indian Region. It is a great effort jointly by Airports Authority of India and Indian Space Research Organisation who have continuously worked since planning, technical demonstration, ground installation, satellite launches followed by integration with GAGAN payload. 

Total project cost is Rs. 774 Crores. Out of which GOI grant is Rs. 378 Crores, AAI investment is 226 Crores and ISRO support is Rs. 170 Crores. Since 14th February 2014, India’s first satellite navigation project GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) has been continuously providing navigation signals from GSAT-8 and GSAT-10 satellites launched by ISRO, augmenting the performance of GPS signals received over Indian Airspace. An operator with a GAGAN/SBAS-capable receiver can benefit from the same level of service and performance no matter the coverage area they are in. GAGAN/SBAS will enable in reducing dependency on ground based infrastructure and leverage the precision and accuracy provided by satellite technologies. Suitably certified GAGAN system can provide approach procedures to runway ends to minima as low as 250 Ft close to ILS Category I.

AAI is focused towards implementing GAGAN procedures at medium and small airports in order to provide enhanced access to such airports. In the role of Air Navigation Service provider AAI is striving to reduce the service provision charges; one of the major cost components is creation and upkeep of ground-based navigational aid infrastructure which includes onetime cost of equipment procurement and recurring cost of maintenance, manpower and land use. Also, the indirect cost of restricted usage of land, due to obstacle free zones around navigational aids can be avoided. Implementing APV procedure will enable in eliminating the requirement of ground aid leading to reduced cost thereby translating to reduced ANS charges for operators. However, for this change to occur, suitably equipped and certified aircraft are vital for the success.