DGCA initiates GAGAN certification process for satellite air navigation

They are planning full fledged launch next year

The certification process for India's satellite-based air navigation system, GAGAN, has been initiated by the DGCA, with its makers AAI and ISRO submitting necessary papers as part of their plans for a full-fledged launch next year.

"We have started the process of certification of GAGAN. It is a long process as there are large number of technical issues and several documentations that have to be examined," DGCA chief Arun Mishra told PTI here.

He said GAGAN, or GPS Aided Geo-Augmented Navigation system, would make India "a global leader in air navigation services." India would become the fourth country after the US, Europe and Japan to have this technology.

Developed jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), GAGAN would expand India's navigation coverage not only over the entire country's and neighbouring airspace, but also over Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

It would help pilots navigate in all-weather conditions by an accuracy of up to three metres, a capability that would enable landing aircraft in tough weather and terrain.

The system would also allow an aircraft to fly a specific path between two three-dimensional defined points, straighten routes and reduce fuel burn.

Official sources said all documents necessary for certification have been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for approval. The long-drawn certification process is likely to take about five months.

The operational testing of the system has been completed by AAI, including its final operational phase and a 30-day stability test in May-June.

The plan is to make GAGAN fully operational by the year- end or early next year. The GAGAN Signal-In-Space is already available for civilian users since December, 2011.