AAI to install new system to integrate six major airports

January 3, 2015, was a particularly misty day in Chennai. A thick blanket of fog had enveloped the city disrupting air traffic. Pilots of flights coming in from Mumbai took a while to realize that visibility was less than 100m. By then, it was too late for traffic control to relay the news to airlines in Mumbai about the dense fog.

Flights that could have been delayed till the problem was solved took off and were unaware of the ideal route to take to Chennai in such a situation. This plunged the airlines operation department and traffic control into chaos. Such situations, which are common place, may be soon a thing of the past. Airports Authority of India ( AAI) will launch a project to streamline air traffic flow to the six busiest airports in the country.

The Centralized Air Traffic Flow Management (C-ATFM) is expected to help cut down delays and allow uniform management of flights. The unit will coordinate with India Meteorological Department, defence, airports and airlines to chart out routes and allot departure and arrival slots to avoid delays and congestion. With Delhi as the command and control centre, it has been put to test and shadow operations will start in September.




A senior AAI official said, "It will be implemented in three phases and complete by 2017. The first phase will cover six major airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Together they handle more than 60% of air traffic. C-ATFM will be expanded to other airports in the second phase. In the final phase, it will be connected to neighbouring countries so that India will play a key role in flow management in South Asia."

Since the project will be linked to military, restricted airspace may open up allowing domestic flights to take the shortest routes. The official also said India had taken the lead in setting up the system in South Asia because of its geographical location. "This region along with Middle East and Africa lack the facility. This will allow aircraft that traverse from west to east and vice versa over South Asia to take the shortest route saving time and fuel," he added.

Air traffic flow management is available in more than 44 regions. It covers the American continent, Europe, Russia and East Asia.