AAI chairman inaugurates central air traffic flow management in Delhi

New Delhi [India], Jan.26 (ANI): Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) formally dedicated the Central Command Centre, Air Traffic Flow Management, at New Air Traffic Services Complex here on Thursday. The inauguration took place in the presence AAI board members, senior officers of AAI and representatives of various airlines. Dr.Mohapatra said on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day, "India is on the threshold of becoming seventh country in the world, to implement air traffic flow control measures across the country which will accrue benefits in terms of reduced carbon foot print, embarking on Green environment concept, fuel savings and economic benefits to the air travelers." He said that the AAI is in the process of implementing the CATFM system covering the entire Indian airspace and major airports, to begin with, subsequently nationwide application. The C-ATFM system is primarily meant to address the balancing of capacity against the demand to achieve optimum utilization of the major resources viz., airport, airspace and aircraft at every Indian airport where there is a capacity constraint. The ATFM Service relies on a number of supporting systems, processes and operational data which are already in place, for efficient management of Air Traffic Flow across the country. The system displays weather information along with static information about airports, airspaces and air routes. It processes the demand / capacity information, provides decision making tools to the ATFM flow managers for collaborative decision making, in consultation with airlines, Military and Airports Operators to facilitate the regulated flow of traffic in each airport in India. With the introduction of ATFM in India, it is envisaged to have: Enhanced safety, cost savings to airlines resulting out of fuel savings approximately to the tune of Rs. 1680 crores per year, reduction in operating cost for airlines and contribution to green environment. (ANI)