SBNS developers in Delhi for world meet

The developers of Satellite Based Navigation Systems (SBNS) from across the globe have gathered here to discuss ways to harmonise development of reliable and inter-operable systems for seamless air navigation.
"To provide further impetus to harmonised development of SBNS across the world, India is hosting two back-to-back high-level technical meetings of Ionospheric Study Task Force (ISTF) under the aegis of ICAO and the 26th Interoperability Working Group," a statement from Civil Aviation Ministry said today.
India is now the fourth certified SBAS developer in the world, after the US, Japan and Europe. Airports Authority of India is hosting the three-day meet which began yesterday.

The ICAO-ISTF has been tasked with the objective of collecting data, studying and developing region-specific ionospheric models for implementation of Satellite Based Augmented Systems (SBAS) in Asia-Pacific region.
"As Asia-Pacific region comprises states that lie in equatorial ionospheric region and are affected by ionospheric scintillations which may result in loss of Global Navigation Satellite System signal, the ISTF is developing an appropriate algorithm to mitigate them has become necessary," it said.
The Interoperability Working Group is the forum for SBAS service providers, set up with the objective of harmonising the global SBAS systems and ensuring seamless navigation with inter-operable systems.

India's initiative to host both the meetings at the same venue brings together the prospective SBAS providers and the Asia Pacific states on a single platform to support research and develop reliable and inter-operable SBAS systems leading to seamless satellite navigation regardless of boundaries, the statement said.