India is on the verge of entering 'big league' in the world aviation scene with the launch of satellite-based navigation system, GAGAN, next year, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Tuesday.
The Global Navigation Satellite System-aided Geo Augmented Navigation, being developed jointly by Airports Authority of India and Indian Space Research Organisation, would be launched in 2008.
"Having such an advanced system will launch India into the future ... the next generation of technology, that would enable handling of large volumes of air traffic", Patel said, while inaugurating the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Navigational Systems Panel meet in New Delhi.
Observing that air traffic was increasing rapidly "almost at an alarming rate", he said there was an urgent need to upgrade technical skills to make Indian skies safe and secure at par with the best in the world.
"India will match and bring its systems on par with any aviation power", Patel said. Similar systems, like GAGAN are being developed by the US, European Union and Japan.
On GAGAN, AAI Chairman K Ramalingam said the technology demonstration phase of the system had "shown better than expected results". The system was now being integrated with the geo-stationary satellite INMARSAT-4F1.
"Encouraged by its initial success, it has now been decided to initiate the final operational phase, in which its coverage area will be extended to the oceanic airspace also", Ramalingam said.
To meet the fog problem, he said the second runway at Delhi airport was being upgraded to CAT- IIIB instrument landing system, while CAT-II capabilities were being created in Kolkata, Jaipur, Amritsar and Lucknow.