Experts call for satellite-based aircraft navigational systems

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Aviation experts today called for adopting new concepts that are emerging for seamless navigation of growing air traffic and air space management systems.

Former civil aviation secretary K Roy Paul said the global positioning system-aided Geo-Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) project being developed is a significant contribution in communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems.

India has sufficient strength in the area of software development. ''This strength and domain knowledge in air navigation services available with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should be exploited to harness research and development activities,'' he told an industry seminar jointly organised by the CNS Officers Guild and the Aeronautical Society of India (ASI).

Mr Paul also called for carving out a separate entity in the form of CNS-ATM service provider for air navigation services on global lines.

ASI's secretary general Ashok Bhusan raised the issue of difficulties faced by CNS engineers in providing services where high capital cost, long gestation period and low yield is resulting in lack of funds for supporting this core aviation infrastructure.

He spoke of the need for deploying satellite-based navigation system for seamless air traffic movement and communication.

UNI