India has achieved a major milestone in the field of air navigation services. The AAI successfully conducted a light trial using an indigenous satellite based augmentation system. GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) was trialled at the Kishangarh airport in Rajasthan.
The system was certified by the Director General of Civil Aviation in 2015. An Indigo Airlines aircraft flew an Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) with LPV minima of 250ft, using GAGAN Service.
A Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) allows aircraft guided approaches that are operationally nearly equivalent to Cat-IILS. The service relies on the availability of GPS and GAGAN Geo Stationary Satellites. After the final approval by DGCA, the procedure will be available for usage of commercial flights.
Lowering the decision height up to 250 ft provides a substantial operational benefit in poor weather and low visibility conditions. Remote airports will be able to accept aircraft benefitting remote airports. A number of airports including those under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) are being surveyed for development of LPV Instrument Approach Procedures.
Alert messages to fishermen, formers, and disaster affected people will be sent on the occurrence of natural disasters, calamities, such as flood, earthquake etc. AAI in coordination with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has implemented GAGAN Message Service.
