Several new projects in aviation communication are being introduced in the Southern Region, said V. Somasundaram, Member (Air Navigation Services) Airports Authority of India (AAI), here on Thursday.
Speaking to journalists after inaugurating a seminar on ‘Aviation Communication - Defining Perspectives,' Mr. Somasundaram said unlike New Delhi and Mumbai airports where the aircraft movement had increased manifold in the last few years, the third Metro Chennai had recorded only a marginal growth of seven per cent. However, in order to cater to the increased demand and taking into account the future growth, several development projects particularly in communication, navigation and surveillance have been implemented in the Southern Region, he said.
The projects included installation of new radars, automation of the Chennai Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and Advance Surface Movement Ground Control System besides integration of the radars in the Southern Region.
The new projects would help in better communication between the ATC and the pilot. This would also help in reducing the work load of the controllers, he said.
Answering a question on automation introduced in New Delhi and Mumbai, Mr. Somasundaram said any new system would have glitches. Taking this into account the AAI would introduce a different upgraded and better automation application for Chennai. Speaking at the seminar B. Pradhan, Chief Vigilance Officer, AAI, said 82 foreign airlines from 42 countries operated from India. The air traffic growth in the country is expected to grow at 15 per cent per year in the next five years. In order to cater to the increasing demand the AAI is in the process of improving infrastructure in several non-metro and metro airports, he said.
The programme was organised by the Aeronautical Communication Officer's Association.
