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Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, has launched the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system for aviation use, in New Delhi. The guided approach landing by leveraging GAGAN is expected to benefit nearly 50 airports in India. The country has become the fourth one to offer space-based satellite navigation services to the aviation sector.

Developed by The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at a cost of Rs. 774 crore, GAGAN will offer seamless navigation to the aviation industry. The system is designed to provide augmentation service for the GPS over the country, the Bay of Bengal, South East Asia and Middle East and up to Africa.
According to ISRO officials, additional benefits include improved efficiency, increased fuel savings, direct routes, approach with vertical guidance at runways, significant cost savings because of the removal of ground aids and reduced workload of flight crew and air traffic controllers.

The Satellite-based navigation system also bridges the gap in the coverage areas of the European Union’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Japan’s Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS).
R.N. Choubey, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation said the system would be available for the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Director-General of Civil Aviation M. Sathiyavathy said that the aircraft now being used by Indian operators are not compatible with GAGAN. “The Ministry is in talks with the industry, and let us see how best the new system can be put to use,” she added.
A.S. Ganeshan, project director, GAGAN, ISRO Satellite Centre, said South Korea and Japan were interested in the system.

-Sumana