On the 68th Republic Day, Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has formally dedicated the Central Command Centre, Air Traffic Flow Management (C-ATFM), at New Air Traffic Services Complex in the presence the Airport Authority of India's Board (AAI) members and senior officers and representatives of Airlines.
Dr Mohapatra said, "India is on the threshold of becoming seventh country in the world to implement the Air Traffic Flow Control (ATFC) measures across the nation." This 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.
AAI is in the process of implementing C-ATFM 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," he said further.
Presently, 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," he added.
There will be enhanced safety, cost savings to airlines resulting out of fuel savings approximately to the tune of `1680 crores per year.
Further, it will reduce operating cost for airlines and contribute to Green Environment
"It is a great moment in the history of Indian Aviation that the prestigious project is dedicated to the nation on the great occasion of its Republic Day," said Dr Mohapatra.