Helicopter Flight from Mumbai to Pune Trials Performance-based Navigation Using India's Gagan System

India Trials Gagan Satnav System on Helicopter Routes

India is deploying its own GPS-aided Geo-augmented satellite-based navigation system, starting with low-level rotorcraft routes.

Poonawalla Aviation flew its Airbus H145 aircraft using India's new GAGAN satellite-based navigation system. (Image: Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation)

By Neelam Mathews

June 6, 2023

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has validated what is claimed to be the first helicopter flight in Asia using performance-based navigation technology. On June 1, private operator Poonawalla Aviation flew its Airbus Helicopters H145 from Mumbai Juhu Airport to Pune on low-level route (LLR) RNP 0.3 using India's Gagan satellite-based navigation system.

The demonstration flight was part of the government’s Akash (meaning sky) project, through which the LLR RNP 0.3 route has been developed and designated to provide an optimized flight path for helicopters. The Akash project aims to augment the safety of helicopter flight procedures and support all-weather operations. Three dedicated corridors have been created for flights in India and more are to be added. India’s civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced that Juhu’s heliport will be upgraded to handle night flights and IFR routes using Gagan.

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