Indian Aviation News
Patel asks AAI to try to enter global market
by Bipin Shah Self Employed
Bipin Shah 
Self Employed
NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) should compete with other airport developers to bag global contracts by using its expertise, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.
"Change your mindset, without which we are not going to transform into the future. Look for every single opportunity. Bid for airports outside the country. If you have expertise, utilise it and leave a footprint," he said here.
He was speaking at a function to mark the launch of the final operational phase of GAGAN, a satellite-based navigation system to aid air traffic from Southeast Asia to Africa, including over the high seas.
Patel's statement came against the backdrop of Indian infrastructure firm GMR bagging deals to develop the Male airport in Maldives, after completing the new terminal at Istanbul airport.
The Minister asked AAI not to see itself as "a mere authority" or a government body but as a professional company.
Referring to the Rs 774 crore project GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system), Patel asked AAI to maximise its investment and market the capability to other countries around India as the system would become "a milestone".
GAGAN, developed jointly by AAI and Indian Space Research Organisation, would not only help the civil aviation sector but also in marine navigation, search and rescue operations, rail and road transport, survey and mapping.
GAGAN would become operational from June 2013 after the necessary certification process that would begin from December this year. The GPS signals, which are currently being received from US satellites free of cost, would be entirely transferred to an Indian satellite to be launched this November.
So far, only the US, Europe and Japan have developed similar capabilities. GAGAN would fill the gap between the European EGNOS and the Japanese MSAS systems to provide seamless air navigation service across regional boundaries.
"It will be a re-defining moment for the Indian aviation sector which is currently ninth largest market in the world. In 5-7 years, it will be in top five," Patel said.
Aug 11th 2010 00:22
Self EmployedNEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) should compete with other airport developers to bag global contracts by using its expertise, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.
"Change your mindset, without which we are not going to transform into the future. Look for every single opportunity. Bid for airports outside the country. If you have expertise, utilise it and leave a footprint," he said here.
He was speaking at a function to mark the launch of the final operational phase of GAGAN, a satellite-based navigation system to aid air traffic from Southeast Asia to Africa, including over the high seas.
Patel's statement came against the backdrop of Indian infrastructure firm GMR bagging deals to develop the Male airport in Maldives, after completing the new terminal at Istanbul airport.
The Minister asked AAI not to see itself as "a mere authority" or a government body but as a professional company.
Referring to the Rs 774 crore project GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system), Patel asked AAI to maximise its investment and market the capability to other countries around India as the system would become "a milestone".
GAGAN, developed jointly by AAI and Indian Space Research Organisation, would not only help the civil aviation sector but also in marine navigation, search and rescue operations, rail and road transport, survey and mapping.
GAGAN would become operational from June 2013 after the necessary certification process that would begin from December this year. The GPS signals, which are currently being received from US satellites free of cost, would be entirely transferred to an Indian satellite to be launched this November.
So far, only the US, Europe and Japan have developed similar capabilities. GAGAN would fill the gap between the European EGNOS and the Japanese MSAS systems to provide seamless air navigation service across regional boundaries.
"It will be a re-defining moment for the Indian aviation sector which is currently ninth largest market in the world. In 5-7 years, it will be in top five," Patel said.
Aug 11th 2010 00:22
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