NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 17: Secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) are likely to be installed in four more airports in the country by this year end to enhance flight safety in all major air routes, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta said today."In order to cover all the major air routes by secondary radars, Airports Authority of India is planning to instal four more SSRs at Varanasi, Nagpur, Berhampur and Mangalore by the end of the year 2000", he said inaugurating an international conference on safety oversight here.Such radars have already been installed in eight airports, he said, adding these radars are also being equipped with minimum safe altitude warning system (MSAW), which would help reduce controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. "These radars will not only improve the capability of air traffic services but also enhance safety of flights in Indian airspace," he said.Stating that the present conventional navigation system has limitations providing coverage over limited areas, Gupta said India is progressing to introduce ICAO accepted global positioning system (GPS). Introduction of the system for navigation over continental routes is being planned.The two-day conference, organised by directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), was also addressed by DGCA H S Khola and chief safety oversight audit unit, ICAO Haile Belai.Gupta said besides augmenting the infrastructure at the airports, steps have also been taken to upgrade equipment installed in aircraft of all operators operating flights in Indian airspace.
