Aviation Minister launches GAGAN system for efficient airline operations

New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Monday launched the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system, which would make airline operations more efficient and reduce costs. GAGAN is a satellite-based navigation system which provides autonomous, high precision geo-spatial location information of the user in terms of latitude, longitude and height along with velocity and time. [caption id=“attachment_2339688” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), at an investment of Rs 774 crore, GAGAN will offer seamless navigation to the aviation industry. The benefits of GAGAN include improved efficiency, direct routes, increased fuel savings, approach with vertical guidance at runways, significant cost savings due to withdrawal of ground aids and reduced workload of flight crew and Air Traffic Controllers. GAGAN will provide augmentation service for GPS over the country, Bay of Bengal, South East Asia and Middle East expanding up to Africa. PTI