AAI Joins hands with IIT Madras to research on Air Navigation Systems

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In a bid to meet the aggressive air traffic growth, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked upon creation of world class R & D Center at Hyderabad to develop in-house research capabilities in the field of airport and air navigation services.   The Civil Aviation Research Organization will be established at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad over an area of about 27 acres with a budget of approximately Rs.1200 Crores spread over 12 years for R & D Infrastructure development and Rs. 31 Crores annually that will be spent towards research activities every year.

As a first step towards this, AAI has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 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 Indian Economy.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Shri A.K. Dutta, Member (Air Navigation Services), AAI and Prof.  Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras in the presence of IIT Experts and top-ranking officials from AAI on 23rd May, 2018 in Chennai.

This 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. 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 the start-up companies and other industries in India to introduce products under “Make in India” policy of the Government of India.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI expressed his happiness over signing of the MoU with IIT, Madras.  He said that “AAI is managing around 130 airports and is the sole service provider of air navigation services.  It is high time that we should focus on developing excellence in these fields through innovation and adoption of technologies to provide enhanced efficiencies and safe passenger and aircraft movement.”  He further added that as part of AAI’s ambitious plans to develop its own in-house capabilities to support indigenous AAI activities, AAI has taken steps to establish a state-of-the-art Civil Aviation Research Organisation at Hyderabad. Collaboration with premier educational Institutions is one of the critical elements envisaged by AAI in the field of Research and Development.

Addressing the experts from both sides during the program, Shri A.K. Dutta said that AAI exuded optimism that the partnership between the organisations would be a game-changer in Indian Aviation in the years to come.

Speaking about the importance of this joint R&D project, 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 the challenges in India Aviation Sector.”

Speaking to the occasion, Prof Ravindra Gettu said, “IIT Madras is glad to collaborate with AAI, especially with their new research wing in the modernization of the air traffic management in our country.”

Prof Ravindra 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.

 

 

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