Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which have jointly taken up the Rs 774 crore project GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation), yesterday commenced the process of its Final System Acceptance Test (FSAT).
The objective of FSAT is to evaluate the system performance and its critical parameters in the integrated live environment using the satellite signals and ground based systems on integrity, accuracy, continuity and availability for aviation use.
"GAGAN is expected to be ready for operation and certification by June 2013", an official of Bangalore- headquartered ISRO said.
AAI Chairman V P Agrawal added, "We are going ahead with certification of the entire signals and systems".
He noted that since GAGAN is a "new technology, new concept and there are safety issues", it needs DGCA certification. The certified system for aviation purpose would be available from June.
AAI officials made a presentation on the project to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who visited the Indian Navigation Master Control Centre (INMCC), GAGAN complex, here last evening.
"Only three countries (the US, Europe and Japan) have it before us," Singh said. (MORE)
