New Delhi, 25th March 2021: Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Air Navigation Services provider in Indian Airspace has taken a huge step towards enhancement of capacity, efficiency and to ensure highest level of safety in the air space over India and associated oceanic airspace.

On 25th March 2021, the Upper airspace above 25,000 feet over North Eastern Region got integrated with Kolkata Communications, Navigation, Surveillance & Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) facility and will be controlled from Kolkata ATC Centre. Earlier, it was being controlled from Guwahati ATC Centre.

Shri Anuj Aggarwal, Chairman, AAI inaugurated the operationalisation of the integration through a video link in presence of Shri I.N. Murthy, Member (ANS), AAI at New Delhi and Shri Manoj Gangal, Regional Executive Director- Eastern Region & Smt Shyamli Halder GM (ATM), Kolkata Airport at Kolkata.

On the occasion, Chairman AAI said, “This is a huge milestone for Airports Authority of India as well as Indian Civil Aviation Sector. The single continuum in the Sky is a gift from AAI to ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’.

AAI has embarked upon this initiative of Upper Airspace Harmonization (UAH) in the four Flight Information Regions (FIR) namely Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai towards establishing a single continuum of upper airspace (26,000 ft. and above).

On the occasion, Shri. I N Murthy, Member (ANS) said, “Upper Area Harmonization is a path-breaking milestone in Indian Aviation History. It enables optimum capacity and flexible flights for Indian Airspace by seamless Air Navigation Services.”

This will facilitate the provision of seamless Air Traffic Management (ATM) services resulting in reduction of the cockpit work load. Also, will help in reduction of operational cost (fuel) and thereby less carbon emission through assignment of economic flight level & direct routing. Implementation of this process will enhance airspace capacity, efficiency and safety.

Shri Manoj Gangal, RED (Eastern Region) said that “This harmonization shall benefit the Airlines, Environment and Economy at large by curtailing flight time and fuel consumption resulting reduced Carbon Footprint”.

Upper Airspace Harmonization (UAH) is a process by which aircraft flying in airspace above a height are controlled from a central location with multiple airspace sectors.  By this process, the entire upper airspace is harmonized with application of uniform Air Traffic management procedures and standards to achieve enhanced level of safety and efficiency.

This is a part of Indian Air Traffic Management Strategic Plan of seamless Air Traffic Services in Indian FIR in line with Global Air Navigation Plan & Regional Air Navigation Plan of ICAO. The implementation is a pointer to the commitment of AAI to walk the extra mile so that the flights don’t fly the extra mile.