As part of the Airport Authority of India’s airport modernisation plan, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport (SVPI) has been chosen as a nodal unit for automation of air traffic control (ATC). The success of the automation process at the airport will be replicated at about 30 other airports across the country.
The automation is a process through which the system automatically picks up data on aircraft movement and processes it for onward communication. Among other things, it helps the controllers in determining the minimum separation distance between aircraft — all in real time.
To put the automation technology in place, the airport authorities are gearing up to begin construction of the new ATC building and a 65-ft-high tower at Ahmedabad. Officials said that for better automation, a good radar is a prerequisite; this will be installed in the new tower.
The automated ATC system, when in place, will reduce the workload of air traffic controllers and improve air safety, besides ensuring hassle-free handling of aircraft movement even in congested airspace.
“We are hopeful that within three months, the work related to these developments will take off,” said Ahmedabad airport director, Anuj Agrawal.
For installing the automation process, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will be sending four ATC officials from Ahmedabad to Spain for special training.
Once the automation system is introduced, the city airport will emerge as a hub for traffic control information.
“Airports such as Goa, Pune, Jaipur, Bhopal, Guwahati and a dozen others will be interlinked with SVPI through the automated system. The city airport will be processing and providing real-time information on air traffic movement with the help of the automated system,” said a senior official.
