India deploys Aireon's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

July 29, 2019: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a contract agreement with Aireon LLC for the implementation of space-based air traffic surveillance service in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata’s oceanic airspaces. AAI aims to deploy space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) by the end of 2019.

The contract was signed at the Corporate Headquarters of AAI by Mansoor Ahmad, executive director, AAI and Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon. With the signing, India joins 26 other countries who actively deploy ADS-B for air traffic surveillance.

The agreement will provide coverage of all ADS-B OUT 1090 MHz equipped oceanic air traffic to AAI, ensuring one of the densest oceanic airspaces in the world an access to the best tools to enhance safety and efficiency and accommodate unprecedented double-digit growth, year over year. The agreement will also enable real-time air traffic surveillance over the busy routes between South East Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe and beyond, that will significantly increase efficiency and improve transitions between oceanic and domestic airspace.

“The decision to implement Aireon’s technology is not only a major step in improving safety and enhancing capacity for our flying public, but also ensures that as one of the globe’s fastest growing markets, we are planning for our continued growth. AAI will be the first Air Navigation Service Provider in the region to implement a technological initiative, on this scale, and offer enhanced air traffic surveillance services to its users,” said Guruprasad Mohapatra, chairman, AAI.

“AAI’s leadership and approach to technology and safety is ensuring that one of the world’s busiest airspaces continues to be one of the safest,” said Aireon’s Thoma. “We are excited that AAI will be the first in the region to deploy this capability and we look forward to this partnership to improve safety and efficiency in Indian airspace.”

With full implementation set for year’s end, AAI will ensure India meets its growing capacity demand with the controller tools needed to provide the highest safety standards to its flying public. India will join 26 other countries who are actively deploying Aireon’s Space-Based ADS-B for air traffic surveillance.