HMCA inaugurates State of the art Network Ops Control Centre for AAI

Giving fillip to the communications infrastructure of Air Navigation Services of Airports Authority of India (AAI), a state-of-the-art Network Operations Control Center (NOCC) has been recently built by M/s Harris Communications Systems India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harris Corporation, USA, on a 12,000 square foot area at AAI’s regional headquarters. In a ceremony held today in the presence of AAI and Harris Executives at Corporate Headquarters of AAI, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Sh. Suresh Prabhu, inaugurated the new facility located at AAI Operational Offices, Rangpuri, New Delhi through a video link.

Highlights

• Significantly enhances communications and network availability, reliability and security commensurate with India’s fast-growing air traffic
• New network represents the Airports Authority of India’s largest services-based implementation

The new facility exclusively serves the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) Futuristic Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) network as a centralized and integrated operations and security center for all critical communications needs throughout the AAI’s facilities across India. The state-of-the-art center is co-located with AAI’s Northern Region headquarters and is supported by a redundant, robust architecture housed within the facility. This dedicated, round-the-clock center allows the staff to handle virtually all communications requirements, including automated problem reporting and real-time network status for AAI. The center also provides 24/7 monitoring of network security, including analysis and threat response. Physical building security, redundant climate control systems, and uninterruptible power sources ensure system and facility availability with virtually zero downtime while security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection sensors, and encryption devices safeguard the network’s integrity.

India is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets. It handles more than 190 million passengers, which is expected to double to 337 million domestic and 84 million international passengers over the next decade. To keep sync with this rapid growth, AAI awarded Harris a 15-year contract on BOO (Build, Own, Operate) model in May 2018 to serve as the prime contractor and systems integrator for the FTI program. This program will upgrade network operations, enhance security, and improve the performance, reliability, availability and quality of India’s air ATM network, while reducing telecommunications costs over a period of time.

Expressing happiness on this occasion, Shri Suresh Prabhu, HMCA said, The partnership between technology providers and technology users is very important. Also, there is a need to create a Centralized Technology Vision Cell for the whole civil aviation sector.” “Our close partnership with AAI has produced incredible results toward India’s ATM modernization efforts in a very short time,” said Kelle Wendling, Vice President and General Manager, Harris Mission Networks. “Completing construction of the network operations control center in less than a year is a testament to the industry-government team’s commitment to quickly stand up a network that meets the demands of India’s rapid air traffic growth.” Shri Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation emphasized the significance of appropriate training of the workforce for effective implementation of this initiative.

India’s exponential air traffic growth is creating demand for new aircraft, air navigation technologies, airport security equipment and infrastructure. With the establishment of this new network operations control center, FTI provides a dedicated nationwide network service to support ATM operations from a centralized location for the very first time in India’s aviation history.

Harris is a leading ATM technology innovator for the FAA, USA and a global provider of ATM systems that meet the demands of the next generation of air travel around the world.