A new global air navigation system with its base in Mumbai would connect China and Pakistan by the year end giving a fillip to air safety across the region.
The satellite-based navigation system - Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) - will enable seamless exchange of messages for planes flying in the region.
The new system would complement and later replace voice communication between air traffic control, pilots and others by providing all flight data and information through messages.
"Mumbai's ATN system is already linked with Singapore and I am informed that trials of Mumbai-China and Mumbai-Karachi are underway and likely to be commissioned by the end of this year," Union Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi said today.
He was addressing experts from Asia-Pacific nations attending a meeting here of the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network Implementation Co-ordination Group.
The ATN, which uses Air Traffic Service Message Handling Service for the ground-ground, ground-air and air-ground communication among various aviation stakeholders, would replace the existing text-based Aeronautical Fixed Telecom Network used for exchanging Air Traffic Service messages worldwide.
"ATN will integrate all aviation stakeholders in one loop like ATC communication, aircraft communication and ground to aeroplane. Flow of information and communication will be very efficient under this new system thus enhancing air safety," V Somasundaram, Member (Air Navigation Services), Airports Authority of India, said.
"In existing system, they talk to each other which can lead to errors. The information exchanged under the new system will be digital so chances of error will be minimised," he said.
Messages containing graphic texts like charts and weather maps can also be sent to end users across the high seas and countries from Singapore to those on the African coasts, apart from almost the entire Asia.
The ATN, which uses Air Traffic Service Message Handling Service (AHMS) for the ground-ground communication among various aviation users, would replace the existing text-based aeronautical fixed telecom network used for exchanging Air Traffic Service messages worldwide.
The AAI, which organised the meet of the taskforce here, has installed AMHS at Mumbai and established linkage with Singapore in March this year. Regular traffic is already being exchanged on this channel, an official said.
"The system will shortly be put on operational trials with China and Thailand, and the Mumbai AMHS will be linked with Muscat, Karachi, Colombo, Kathmandu, Dhaka and other foreign destinations for exchange of aeronautical messages," he said.
India is a designated backbone centre in the Asia-Pacific region to provide ATN routes to Middle East and African-Indian Ocean regions.
"Unlike AFTN, AMHS systems can also forward messages containing graphics texts like charts, weather maps etc as attachments to the end users. This application is bound to enhance air safety manifold," he said.
Zaidi also spoke on challenges before the civil aviation sector in the coming years in view of growth in the sector and highlighted initiatives taken by the ministry.
According to a recent survey, in next 5-10 years America and Europe will occupy only 20 per cent each and rest of the global air traffic load will shift towards Asia Pacific region and Middle East, he said.
The Civil Aviation ministry has prepared a proposal for setting up an administratively and financially autonomous civil aviation authority of India. An independent Accident Investigation Bureau too has been set up in the ministry for independent probe into mishaps.
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