Plan To Upgrade Air Surveillance

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to modernise its communication and surveillance equipment in view of increasing traffic and safety requirements.

The plan includes setting up of a dedicated satellite communication network to link 72 airports, automating air traffic control centres at international airports, increasing radar coverage and trial operation of Local Area Differential Global Positioning System (Ladgps).

The aviation ministry is also considering installation of automatic dependent surveillance systems, currently undergoing trials in Chennai, to maintain surveillance over airspace. The system is also being installed in Calcutta.

The satellite network, sources said, would support coverage of wireless communication beyond the land mass to cover certain oceanic areas, allow better coordination between auto traffic control centres, upgrade low-speed teleprinter links into high-speed data circuits and help in radar networking.

AAI is also planning trial operation of Ladgps for precision landing and approach and automation of air traffic control centres at international airports. Sources said radar coverage had been achieved over 80 per cent of the airspace. The commissioning of three more advanced radars (monopulse secondary surveillance radars) by the 1999-end will bring the country's entire airspace under radar coverage.