Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed an agreement with US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop a roadmap for modernisation of its air traffic services.

Air traffic services (ATS) comprises air traffic management (ATM) and communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS).

AAI & USTDA partnership is aimed at developing CNS/ATM roadmap for the AAI for modernisation of the national airspace system (NAS).

Under this agreement, US aircraft manufacturer Boeing will provide technical assistance, thus create a roadmap to enhance communications, expand existing systems and airspace capacity and invest in CNS/ATM facilities.

This will help in improving safety and reducing congestion for flights in India. At the same time, it will create market access for high quality US exports that can advance India’s aviation goals.

Need

Air passengers traffic over the last 49 months in India has grown its double with bringing several challenges in it, including maintaining safe and efficient aircraft operations.

In this bid, AAI has decided to draw a robust roadmap for sustained ANS infrastructure to meet the growth challenges in a planned way. By utilizing global and regional best practices as a benchmark, technical help will recommend roadmap and implementation plan to AAI for improving airspace utilisation and implement CNS/ATM air and ground equipage in short, medium and long-term.

Airports Authority of India (AAI)

AAI is a statutory body under the aegis of Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.  It manages around 125 airports in India

Founded: 1995

Headquartered: New Delhi