The newly launched GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system is all set to cut down aviation costs and increase efficiency all around India.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have together developed the new GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system. The system, which has been developed at a cost of INR 774 crore, was launched by Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, in New Delhi. GAGAN has been developed with the aim to cut down costs and increase efficiency during aircraft navigations.
GAGAN decreases GPS signal errors, provides corrections and therefore, is capable of managing air traffic in a more skilful manner. Its precision for landing is ten times higher than the regular GPS and radio navigation aids.
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As the system corrects distortions in GPS signals, it is capable of providing very accurate location of the aircraft in terms of latitude, longitude and height. It thus reduces the margin of error while reading aircraft movement from 50 meters to 3.5 meters.
Along with establishing augmented service across the country, GAGAN is also expected to provide its service over the Bay of Bengal, South-East Asia and Middle East which shall expand up to Africa. As of now, only US, Japan, Europe, and now India, have this system.
According to V Somasundaram, head of the Navigational System Wing of the Airports Authority of India – “it will pack in more aircraft in the same airspace, accurately, predict the ground obstacles and thereby suggest shorter routes.”
It will also provide vertical guidance on runways, which will further reduce the tasks at hand for the flight crew and the air traffic controllers. Fifty of the country’s operational airports are expected to profit from GAGAN which is now operational, but airlines needs to install receivers on board to utilise it.
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