- July 15, 2015, 10:15 AM
India's airlines worry about the high cost of equipage and certification associated with Gagan. (Photo: Neelam Mathews)
India’s
airlines are resisting attempts by the country’s Directorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA)
to adopt the recently launched Gagan (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation)
system, citing the high cost of associated equipment and the time needed for
retrofits, training and certification.
One of the world’s four satellite-based
augmentation systems, Gagan is a joint project of the Airport Authority of
India (AAI),
the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Raytheon. Its advanced
air navigation technology provides coverage for the entire Indian Flight
Information Region (FIR)
via broadcast signals from two Indian built satellites (GSAT 8 and GSAT 10). “It improves fuel efficiency of
airlines operating throughout India,” said Raytheon’s country director and
senior executive for India, Nik Khanna.
Indian civil aviation director M. Sathiyavathy
confirmed that the DGCA has held discussions with airlines on
whether authorities should mandate or “incentivize” the system. “It is in early
stages and nothing is decided as yet,” she told AIN. While Gagan
promises compatibility with future aircraft’s SBAS equipment, the DGCA will need to address directives for
Indian-registered aircraft. Maximum benefit from en route and guided approach
landing would require operators to equip all aircraft with global navigation
satellite system (GNSS) avionics.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has opposed
making Gagan mandatory. “Airlines have already invested in the Aircraft Based
Augmentation System [ABAS]….Until
we see a positive benefit, airlines are not interested [in it],” IATA director general Tony Tyler told AIN.
“The government cannot mandate the system as it
is not related to safety,” said a senior domestic airline official, who
estimated that receivers cost $160,000 per aircraft. “This is a large amount
given that the entire fleet would need to be retrofitted….Besides pilots are
averse to it since it would add to the cockpit load.” He insisted theDGCA should have consulted with airlines
when it planned Gagan 15 years ago. “We could have then negotiated the cost of
receivers with OEMs when ordering aircraft,”
he explained.
“Gagan was planned for use in aviation,” said
Arjun Singh, former joint general manager for communications, navigation and
surveillance for AAI. “Direct
routes result in significant reduction in fuel, congestion and passenger time.
Restructuring of India’s entire airspace must be taken into account in the new
civil aviation policy being redrafted by the government.”
While plans include involving neighboring
countries to participate in Gagan, an AAI official asked, “If you can’t sell it
to your own airlines and prove that it is beneficial, what template will you
propose to others?”
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