USTDA Supports Aviation Development in India

(USTDA) Three new activities build upon cooperative dialogue

NEW DELHI, INDIA – USTDA underscored the breadth of its engagement in India's aviation market by concluding three grant activities with India's civil aviation agencies that will introduce U.S. technologies and best practices to key aviation stakeholders in India, helping to modernize the country's aviation infrastructure.

During the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi on June 24, USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak announced the Agency's support for a Performance Based Navigation Project to assist the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in adopting technologies to increase aviation airspace capacity and energy efficiency. This grant was recently signed in New Delhi by John McCaslin, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and V. Somasundaram, Member, Air Navigation Services, AAI. The technical assistance will demonstrate how performance-based navigation procedures can be developed, certified and implemented at three key airports in India.

Director Zak also announced a second phase of the Technical, Management, and Operational Development Training Program with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) during the Strategic Dialogue. This grant, which was recently signed by Director Zak and Joint Director General Charan Das of DGCA, will offer industry-based training to enhance DGCA's regulatory and safety capacities. Several U.S. industry leaders have committed to support the program by providing training on a range of new technologies and practices being adopted in international aviation.

Finally, John McCaslin and V. Somasundaram signed a grant to develop and test a prototype Airport Geographic Information System (AGIS) with AAI. The system is capable of storing aeronautical geographic information in an electronic format, which can be updated, edited and shared both internally and externally, increasing overall sector efficiencies. The prototype will be developed and tested at Calicut, a medium-sized airport in India, as a proof of concept for future customization, deployment and application of AGIS technologies for other airports.

The successful U.S.-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP), which remains the key driver of collaboration between both countries' public and private sectors, positions U.S. firms to help implement India's aviation infrastructure objectives. Along with the ACP, India's civil aviation agencies and several U.S. government partners, USTDA is hosting the fourth biannual U.S.-India Aviation Summit in Washington, D.C. from October 29-31. The Summit will encourage a high-level dialogue on major issues relating to air traffic management and control in India, and promote U.S. technical solutions to support India's growing aviation market.