India’s Unified Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, called Indian Single Sky Harmonised ATM (ISHAN), is a plan to merge the country’s four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) into a single airspace-centred system. This system aims to streamline air traffic control and create a single command centre that oversees the entire Indian airspace. The first command centre is expected to be established in Nagpur. The team explores the benefits of ISHAN, including faster flight times, reduced fuel consumption, potential cost savings for airlines, improved emergency response, and enhanced coordination.
The unified airspace strategy is expected to:
Optimise air traffic management
Hasten air movements
Bring cost savings to airports and airlines
Improve safety
Improve civil aviation situational awareness
Enable airlines to identify more efficient flight routes
Result in reduced travel time and fuel consumption
Allow planes to fly more consistently at higher altitudes
Allow planes to descend more efficiently and smoothly to land
Streamlining Flight Information Regions (FIRs):
Currently, India has four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Each FIR controls its own airspace, providing air traffic services and weather information. When a plane travels from one FIR to another, it requires coordination and multiple clearances, increasing workload for pilots and command centers. Additionally, the flight path may not be the shortest route due to predetermined satellite points. With ISHAN, a central command center will allow airlines to identify the shortest possible route, reducing flight time and fuel consumption.
Fuel Savings and Cost Reduction:
By optimizing flight routes, ISHAN aims to save fuel and reduce energy bills. For example, a minute of time saved per departure for a narrow-body aircraft used in the domestic sector can save up to 360 crore rupees (3.6 billion) in aviation fuel annually. With an average fuel consumption of 40 liters per minute for narrow-body planes and approximately 3,000 departures per day in India, saving a minute per departure translates to 120,000 liters of fuel saved daily. These fuel savings may potentially lead to cost reductions for airlines, which could be passed on to customers in the form of cheaper tickets.
Improved Emergency Response and Coordination:
The establishment of a central command center in Nagpur will enhance emergency response capabilities and coordination. The Joint Information Center will have real-time visibility and information about the entire country’s airspace. This centralized approach will enable better coordination between air traffic controllers, leading to improved response times during emergencies.
The Way Forward:
The process of implementing ISHAN involves several steps. The Airport Authority of India has already initiated the setup of the command center and invited expressions of interest for preparing a detailed report. The integration of civil and military radars, training of controllers, infrastructure development, and relocation of controllers are crucial aspects that need to be addressed. Experts estimate that it may take up to eight years to fully migrate to the new system. However, India is committed to completing the process at the earliest to optimize air traffic management.
India’s unified air traffic management system, ISHAN, holds great promise for the country’s aviation sector. It aims to reduce flight times, save fuel, potentially lower ticket prices, improve emergency response, and optimize air traffic management. As India continues to experience a boom in civil aviation, with record aircraft orders, new sectors, and airports being announced, ISHAN will play a vital role in transforming India into a major aviation hub. With ongoing efforts to modernize immigration processes and expand airport infrastructure, India is well on its way to achieving its aviation goals.