Indigo Became the First Airline in the Country to Land Aircraft Using the Indigenous Navigation System Gagan

In the history of the Indian aviation industry, IndiGo became the first airline in the country to land aircraft using the indigenous navigation system GAGAN. This is a huge leap for Indian Civil Aviation and a firm step toward Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India is the first country in Asia Pacific Region and the third country in the world to have its own Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) after the USA and Japan.

The flight ATR-72 aircraft landed at the Kishangarh airport in Rajasthan is the first to use the GPS-aided geo-augmented navigation (GAGAN) system.

The Airline fitted the GPS-enable system as per the direction of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It issued a notification that all aircraft registered in India after July 1, 2021, to be fitted with GAGAN equipment.

GAGAN has been jointly developed by the Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The system is used to provide lateral and vertical guidance when an aircraft is approaching a runway for landing. Its precision is especially useful at small airports where the instrument landing system (ILS) has not been installed.

It is a system to improve the accuracy of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver by providing reference signals. It is interoperable with other international SBAS systems. Currently, the satellites GSAT-8 and GSAT-10 satellites have the GAGAN payloads.

   Important points for the exam:

• IndiGo became the first airline in the country to land aircraft using the indigenous navigation system GAGAN. 
• India is the first country in Asia Pacific Region and the third country in the world to have its own Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) after the USA and Japan.
• GAGAN has been jointly developed by the Centre-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The GAGAN has been designed to provide additional accuracy, availability, and integrity necessary to enable users to rely on GPS for all phases of flight.

   Facts to know:

• GAGAN: GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation.
• Indigo was established in 2006.
• Headquarters of Indigo: Gurugram.
• CEO of Indigo: Rono Dutta.