AAI, IIT-Madras to jointly develop navigation systems

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and IIT-Madras have joined hands to take up collaborative research on Air Navigation Systems.

This would support AAI in addressing aviation infrastructure and air traffic management challenges for the common good of the economy.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Prof Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT-Madras, and A K Dutta, Member (Air Navigation Services), AAI, in the presence of experts from IIT and top-ranking officials from AAI.

Speaking about the importance of this collaboration, Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT-Madras, said, “IIT-Madras is eager to partner with AAI to bring in innovation in airport and navigation management to address challenges in the India aviation sector.”

Prof Gettu further affirmed that the MoU would ensure synergy of capabilities of both the organisations in their respective domains, paving the way for mutually beneficial and lasting solutions in the ever-growing field of aviation. This MoU is also expected to facilitate the access of crucial data related to air traffic for researchers of IIT-Madras. The MoU provides for Transfer of Knowledge/skill by IIT-Madras experts in the areas of Mathematical/Analytical/Artificial Intelligence/Data mining solutions that are essential to carry out research.

The AAI will be providing a unique opportunity to Researchers of IIT-Madras by way of exposure to the new dimension of Air Navigation Services leading to innovative ideas in the field.

This will ultimately open up many areas in the aviation arena to startup companies and other industries in India to introduce products under “Make in India” policy of the Government of India.

The AAI manages 125 airports and provides Air Navigation Services to over 2.8 million square nautical miles of airspace. It has been taking up Air Navigation Services (ANS) and Airport Infrastructure Modernisation plans to keep pace with the exponential growth in air traffic in India.