If the airlines can take advantage of the GPS-aided Geo- Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system by equipping their aircraft with matching avionics, almost USD 10 million worth of jet fuel could be saved annually, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa said.
He was indicating at the fact that a lot of fuel could be saved as the GAGAN system would help pilots navigate in all- weather conditions by an accuracy of up to three metres.
Addressing an ASSOCHAM event here, Lavasa said "virtually require all aircraft to be equipped with GNSS (global navigation satellite system) avionics" in order to realise maximum benefits from the global navigation satellite system.
"Implementation decisions obviously should take into account aircraft operators' plans to equip (their fleet), which in turn depends upon cost savings that justify avionics and related costs," he said.
Also Read
The Secretary also said that air navigation service (ANS) providers and aircraft operators would be required to work together and co-ordinate investments in the GNSS technology.
Maintaining that India was poised to become the third largest market in terms of air traffic growth, he said satellite navigation technology was the vision of future and GAGAN was an essential cornerstone to future safety.
The first phase of the ambitious navigation system GAGAN was certified by aviation regulator DGCA in January, which would be a major step to make it fully operational in the next few months.