Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday successfully conducted flight trials using GAGAN based LPV approach procedure at Kishangarh Airport in Rajasthan.
With this India became the first country in Asia Pacific Region to achieve such a landmark.
During the trials, Indigo Airlines using its ATR aircraft tested an Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) with LPV minima of 250ft, using GAGAN Service.
The tests at Kishangarh Airport were performed as part of initial GAGAN LPV flight trials along with the DGCA team on-board.
After the final approval by DGCA, the procedure will be available for usage on commercial flights.
The successful trial is a great achievement and major milestone in the field of Air Navigation Services (ANS) in the history of the Indian Civil Aviation Sector.
What is GAGAN?
GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation or GAGAN is an Indian Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) jointly developed by AAI and ISRO.
It is the first such system developed for India and neighboring countries in the equatorial region.
GAGAN System was certified by DGCA in 2015 for Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV 1) and en-route (RNP 0.1) operations.
There are only four Space-Based augmentation systems available in the world namely India (GAGAN), the US(WAAS) Europe (EGNOS), and Japan (MSAS).
GAGAN is the first such system developed for India and neighboring countries in the equatorial region.
What is Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance?
Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance or LPV is a Satellite-Based Procedure that has been used by the aircraft for landing purposes today at Kishangarh Airport (Rajasthan).
LPV approaches will make it possible to land at airports not equipped with expensive Instrument Landing Systems, which include many small regional and local airports.
It permits aircraft-guided approaches that are operationally nearly equivalent to Cat-IILS, without the need for ground-based navigational infrastructure.
Lowering the decision height up to 250 ft provides a substantial operational benefit in poor weather and low visibility conditions.
Thus, any airport which hitherto would require higher visibility minima will be able to accept aircraft benefitting remote airports which are devoid of precision approach capability equipment.
The service relies on the availability of GPS and GAGAN Geo Stationary Satellites (GSAT-8, GSAT-10, and GSAT-15), launched by ISRO.
Regional Connectivity Scheme
A number of airports including airports under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) are being surveyed for the development of GAGAN based LPV Instrument Approach Procedures so that suitably equipped aircraft can derive maximum benefit in terms of improved safety during landing, reduction in fuel consumption, reduction in delays, diversions and cancellations, etc.
AAI in coordination with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has implemented the GAGAN Message Service (GMS) through which alert messages to fishermen, formers, and disaster-affected people will be sent on the occurrence of natural disasters, calamities, such as flood, earthquake, etc.
The additional capabilities of GAGAN are also being explored to utilize it in non-aviation fields such as Railways, Surveying, Agriculture, Power sector, Mining, etc.
Design of GAGAN Procedures
Design of GAGAN procedures requires a meticulous survey of the airport environment surroundings and obstacle surfaces.
These data are correlated with the complex aircraft approach maneuvers and further simulated in software to ensure the safety of the procedure designed.
These procedures can be developed for any airport in India for landing without the help of the Instrument Landing System.
These types of procedures make aircraft land in low visibility conditions almost equivalent to Category-1 Instrument Landing System (ILS).
Currently Indigo (35), SpiceJet (21), Air India (15), Go First (04), Air Asia (01), and other airlines have aircraft in their fleet capable to use these LPV procedures.
Airports Authority of India and DGCA
Airports Authority of India has developed 22 such procedures and some are under the process of approval from DGCA for commercial flight operations.
In line with Govt. of India initiative of AtamNirbhar Bharat, the development of LPV procedures for all civil airports is also in progress to make the Indian civil aviation sector more Self-Reliant,
AAI is making all efforts for ensuring the availability, continuity, and integrity of Air Navigation services through such technological enhancement in India.
With this India becomes the first country in Asia to have a satellite-based landing procedure.
The airport authority of India would like to place on record its sincere appreciation to ISRO for designing and implementing the GAGAN program from 2002 onwards. DGCA was highly proactive in ensuring the operationalization of GAGAN.
AAI also appreciates the cooperation of Indigo airlines in executing the safe flight trials at Kishangarh.