ISRO (headquartered at Bangalore) has launched the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system on 13 July 2015. GAGAN is a satellite-based air navigation system which will make airline operations more efficient and in turn it will reduce costs also. Also it will reduce workloads for flight crews.
GAGAN will provide its services from Bay of Bengal, South East Asia and Middle East expanding up to Africa.
After the US, Japan and European Union (EU), India have developed such augmented navigational system. It took over 15 years to develop this system.
The new system has been developed jointly by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) at a cost of about Rs.774 crore.
Ashok Gajapati Raju, Civil Aviation Minister dedicated the services to the nation in a function in New Delhi. It is left upon the Airline Industry whether to use this system or not as there might be some compatibility issues.
Some developments include:
- GAGAN will correct distortion in GPS signals, providing very accurate information.
- GAGAN will reduce the error margin to 3.5 meters which is more than 50 meters at present.
- GAGAN will predict the ground obstacles and thereby suggest shorter routes. Shorter routes would mean a saving on fuel costs.
- The system is now operational but to use it, receivers are needed to be installed on board.
- Every movement of an aircraft will be mapped not just over the Indian airspace but also SAARC countries.
- To discuss GAGAN, a meeting will be held in September.
