The Ajay Prasad Committee set up to formulate a master plan for next generation futuristic air navigation services has recommended that flexible use of airspace be accepted as underline basis to optimise the use of Indian airspace to meet the needs of both military and civil aviation for the country.
This has been accepted by the defence ministry and the Indian Air Force (IAF). The committee has recommended to constituted a high-level panel to look into working out ways of flexible and common use of airspace.
As a first step, the airspace above 29,000 feet may be released for civilian air traffic. The defence requirements would have a priority of not only increasing their height requirements but also expanding the restricted airspace, whenever required, a civil aviation ministry statement said.
To divert the planned civilian traffic and not to cause undue hardship to passengers, a notice of at least 24 hours needs to be given. The normal air defence traffic would continue to use the upper airspace above 29,000 feet along with the civilian air traffic as at present.
The committee which was set up on March 20, 2007 under the chairmanship of Ajay Prasad, submitted its report to the civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Tuesday. The committee in its report has stressed on the necessity of automation and the implementation of solutions like terminal automation, integrated automation, intergraded oceanic, strategic flight planning across airspace.
The committee made many other recommendations including air traffic flow management, airspace management, air traffic control (ATC) procedures, voice communication system (VCS), data link communication systems and navigation systems.
