Indra to modernize air control center in Delhi

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested Indra to modernize Delhi's air control center, one of the most important centers in the country, which manages one of the busiest air traffic areas in India including operations in Indira Gandhi international airport (New Delhi).

Indra has also recently completed and handed over the Calcutta control center to AAI. This center is already using the company's technology to manage the routes from Southeastern Asia.

The multinational will now provide 140 controller positions and an advanced automated air traffic management system for Delhi's approach and route center. This system will enable operators to benefit from an integrated view of all aircraft movements in the airspace under their responsibility. It will also detect potential route conflicts and calculate possible alternatives in advance. Additionally, it will expedite coordination with other control centers and facilitate communication with pilots.

Thanks to this new contract, two of the four air control centers managing India's en-route traffic will use Indra's technology. The company has deployed its air traffic systems in more than 3,000 installations in 140 countries.

Indra has been working closely with AAI since 2010, when this authority chose Indra to deploy nine mode S radars, which now control around 80% of the country's airspace. This enterprise also selected the Spanish multinational to implement automated air traffic management systems in 38 airports.

These improvements have allowed AAI to face India's rapid increase in air traffic, while ensuring the highest security levels. They also lead to a greater ability to compete, and make Indian airports more attractive to airlines.

Training air controllers

Given the increased air traffic, AAI has had to reinforce air controller training and preparation of new staff. To this end, last year the Indian air service provider requested that Indra implemented four approach and tower simulators for training towers.

They have been installed in the air control centers of Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. These systems faithfully reproduce a real control center, and can even be used as backup centers if necessary.

Air traffic leader in Asia

Over the last few years Indra has won major contracts in Asia-Pacific: China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Australia, and India. Special emphasis should be given to, for instance, the implementation of control centers in Xi'an and Chengdu (China) which manage air movement in five regions of this Asian giant. Also in China, Indra is rolling out a network of radars to support surveillance in 60% of the country's airspace.

Also, Indra has important contracts in Australia where it is currently renovating all radar systems on the western coast. Indra is also the main provider of radio navigation systems in the country.

Indra, chaired by Javier Monzón, is one of the world's largest consultancy and technology multinationals, a leader in Europe and Latin America and is expanding in other emerging economies. Innovation is the cornerstone of its business, which is highly focussed on the customer and on sustainability. The multinational is one of the leaders in its sector in Europe in terms of investment in R&D and innovation, having invested more than €570M in the last three years. With sales approaching €3,000 million, it employs 43,000 professional and has customers in 138 countries.