DGCA Launches Satellite-Based Landing System in India for Enhanced Flight Safety
NEW DELHI: In a significant stride towards improving aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Thursday the successful application of a “satellite-based landing system (SLS)” for the first time on a jet engine aircraft in India.
The milestone flight, operated by an IndiGo Airbus A320, landed in Udaipur using the GAGAN (GPS aided geo augmented navigation) system developed by ISRO in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India. This development follows an earlier implementation on turboprop ATR aircraft a few years ago.
Revolutionizing Secondary Airport Safety
SLS is anticipated to be a transformative development for enhancing safety at secondary airports that lack the costly instrument landing systems (ILS). It employs advanced satellite navigation technologies to facilitate flight approaches.
Having made its debut in Europe with the A350 in 2015, SLS is now poised to become a vital safety enhancement method in India. According to sources, the IndiGo flight to Udaipur marks “another significant milestone in advancing satellite-based navigation in India by successfully conducting a localiser performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approach.” Notably, IndiGo initiated LPV operations on its ATR fleet last year and has now expanded its use to the Airbus fleet.
Expanding SBAS Capabilities
The Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) GAGAN, jointly developed by ISRO and AAI, provides coverage across Indian airspace necessary for LPV procedures. This positions India uniquely as one of the few nations globally equipped with its SBAS capability. To date, AAI has published 23 LPV approach procedures, with the expectation that this number will surpass 40 by year’s end.
As more airports integrate LPV procedures and more airlines equip their fleets with SBAS capabilities, GAGAN is set to become central to the future of Indian aviation, aiming to create a safer, more efficient, and more accessible air travel experience.
Milestone in the Approval Process
This demonstration flight represents a critical step in DGCA’s regulatory approval process for introducing LPV procedures into regular commercial use with IndiGo’s Airbus fleet, according to sources familiar with the process.
“For decades, aircraft have relied on ground-based navigation systems to guide pilots safely to the runway, especially during poor weather or low visibility. While these systems have served aviation well for decades, they are expensive to procure and maintain. SBAS has fundamentally changed the way aircraft navigate and land,” said a senior pilot.
SBAS enhances the accuracy, integrity, and availability of standard GNSS signals by transmitting correction data from geostationary satellites. Unlike traditional methods that depend on equipment at airports, SBAS allows pilots to receive precise horizontal and vertical guidance as they approach runways, even at airports lacking conventional precision landing systems.
Advantages of SLS Technology
The SLS technology not only improves safety, reduces operational delays, but also enhances overall efficiency for airlines and passengers. According to Airbus, “This function enables pilots to perform ‘straight-in’ approaches using satellite positioning into airports, even in low-visibility conditions.” It facilitates access to secondary airports and serves as a backup to ILS for primary runways during maintenance or diversions.
“Almost half of recorded controlled flight into terrain accidents occurred during approach and landing without vertical guidance. SLS allows approaches with vertical and lateral guidance to 200 ft above the ground, without expensive ground installation like ILS,” remarked an official overseeing this initiative, speaking anonymously.
