Govt okays country's 1st indigenous 'PinS' instrument approach procedure for helicopter ops
New Delhi, July 1
The government on Wednesday announced the approval of the country's first private Point-in-Space Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport, which is a significant milestone in India's aviation sector.
PinS (Point-in-Space) procedures use advanced satellite-based navigation technology to enable helicopters to conduct safe and precise instrument approaches to heliports that do not have conventional instrument landing infrastructure.
This is particularly beneficial during adverse weather conditions and in areas where ground-based navigation aids are not available.
Developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the PinS procedure has been designed in accordance with DGCA regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices.
"The introduction of India's first PinS Instrument Approach Procedure marks the beginning of a new era in helicopter operations by significantly enhancing flight safety, operational efficiency and all-weather accessibility. I sincerely appreciate the coordinated efforts of all concerned agencies including the Airports Authority of India, DGCA and the state government of Andhra Pradesh in achieving this historic milestone," said Minister for Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu.
"Our foremost priority is the adoption of modern technologies to make helicopter operations more reliable and more accessible across the country," he added.
The minister said they recently concluded the first phase of this year's Char Dham helicopter operations successfully without any incident supported by upgraded technological infrastructure.
"Our commitment is to build a technology-driven and globally benchmarked helicopter ecosystem in India," he added.
The introduction of the country's first PinS Instrument Approach Procedure is another major milestone in this journey. It reinforces the Government's vision of modernising aviation infrastructure through Performance-Based Navigation (PBN), expanding the use of indigenous satellite-based navigation technologies and aligning India's aviation ecosystem with global best practices.
The approval is expected to pave the way for the development of similar PinS procedures across the country, benefiting emergency medical services, disaster relief operations, tourism, offshore activities, pilgrimage services, corporate aviation, and regional connectivity.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great news for states like Uttarakhand and Himachal! We've seen too many helicopter accidents in the hills due to bad weather. This satellite-based approach could literally save lives. But I hope the government also focuses on training our pilots well for these new procedures. Technology is only as good as the people using it.
Interesting development. In the US, similar PinS procedures have been around for a while, but it's good to see India adopting global standards. The key will be infrastructure maintenance and ensuring that the satellite signals are reliable in our diverse terrain. Let's hope this isn't just a one-off for an election year.
As someone who works in the aviation sector, this is huge. PinS procedures mean no more reliance on expensive ground-based radars at every heliport. This will make helicopter services affordable for rural connectivity and disaster relief. The Char Dham ops going smoothly is proof that India can do this right. Well done! 👏
Impressive step forward, but I hope safety standards are not compromised in the rush to expand. The article mentions 'all-weather accessibility' — that's a bold claim. Fog and heavy rain can still affect satellite signals. We need robust backup systems and regular audits. Otherwise, this could become a liability rather than an asset.
Finally, some real modernization! 🙌 This will be a big boost for tourism in places like Goa and Kerala where heli-tours are popular. Also, for corporate travel between cities — imagine saving hours on road travel. But we must ensure smaller states also get these facilities
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.