Auto Trac III

India’s air traffic management system is all set for an overhaul with the implementation of the next-generation Auto Trac (AT) III system at Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai airports. Developed by US defence major Raytheon, AT III is a surveillance and safety air traffic system which helps prevent flight delays by providing meteorological information apart from improving overall safety. The system carries real-time meteorological information for air traffic controllers to help them adjust to changing weather conditions. Ahead of the Paris Air Show, senior Raytheon executives said that the system is already operational in Delhi, even while awaiting formal clearance from AAI and DGCA, while trial runs are on in Mumbai and Chennai. AT III also comes equipped with a medium-term conflict detection system which can determine what’s going to happen in an aircraft’s flight path for the next 60 minutes and prevent collision. The new surveillance and safety data processing system is likely to improve air traffic controllers’ productivity by allowing them to handle more traffic. It will also help in predicting the exact time of landing for aircraft. While the system was hit by some glitches last year during trial runs in Delhi, Raytheon’s command and control systems chief Andrew Zogg said these had been ironed out and the system was ready to be integrated into India’s air traffic system. According to Zogg, AT III is also a ‘green’ initiative which will reduce consumption of fuel. “The AT III allows continuous descent unlike the earlier system and this is going to save a lot of fuel,” Zogg said. According to Raytheon officials, the system integrates radar and flight plan data to provide clear and logical information to air traffic controllers. Delhi airport was previously using the Auto Trac II system which too had been developed by Raytheon.