AAI embarks upon restructuring of Upper Indian Airspace

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Air Navigation Services provider in Indian Airspace, has taken a huge step towards enhancement of capacity, efficiency and ensuring the highest level of safety in the air space over India and associated oceanic airspace. The authority successfully integrated the upper airspace above 25,000 feet over North Eastern Region with Kolkata Communications, Navigation, Surveillance & Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) facility on Thursday, March 25. Now the air navigation above 25,000 feet will be controlled from Kolkata ATC Centre. Earlier, it was being controlled by Guwahati ATC Centre.

AAI's Chairman Anuj Aggarwal inaugurated the operationalisation of the integration through a video link in the presence of Member (ANS) IN Murthy at New Delhi and Regional Executive Director (Eastern Region) Manoj Gangal and Kolkata Airport's General Manager Shyamli Halder at Kolkata.

Streamlined, safer and more efficient India Airspace

On the occasion, the AAI Chairman said, "This is a huge milestone for Airports Authority of India as well as Indian Civil Aviation Sector. The single continuum in the Sky is a gift from AAI to 'Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav.'

AAI has embarked upon this initiative of Upper Airspace Harmonization (UAH) in the four Flight Information Regions (FIR) namely Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai towards establishing a single continuum of upper airspace (26,000 ft. and above).

On the occasion, Murthy said, "Upper Area Harmonization is a path-breaking milestone in Indian Aviation History. It enables optimum capacity and flexible flights for Indian Airspace by seamless Air Navigation Services."

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This will facilitate the provision of seamless Air Traffic Management (ATM) services resulting in the reduction of the cockpit workload. Also, will help in the reduction of operational cost (fuel) and thereby less carbon emission through the assignment of economic flight level & direct routing. Implementation of this process will enhance airspace capacity, efficiency and safety.

AAI's RED (Eastern Region) Manoj Gangal said that "This harmonization shall benefit the Airlines, Environment and Economy at large by curtailing flight time and fuel consumption resulting in reduced Carbon Footprint."

What is Upper Airspace Harmonization?

Upper Airspace Harmonization (UAH) is a process by which aircraft flying in the airspace above a height are controlled from a central location with multiple airspace sectors. By this process, the entire upper airspace is harmonized with an application of uniform Air Traffic management procedures and standards to achieve an enhanced level of safety and efficiency.

This is a part of the Indian Air Traffic Management Strategic Plan of seamless Air Traffic Services in Indian FIR in line with the Global Air Navigation Plan & Regional Air Navigation Plan of ICAO. The implementation is a pointer to the commitment of AAI to walk the extra mile so that the flights don't fly the extra mile.

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