The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have joined hands 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 between Prof Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras and Sri A.K. Dutta, Member (Air Navigation Services), AAI, to seal the agreement.

The 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 ÂMake in India policy of the government.

Speaking about the importance of this collaboration, Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, said, ÂIIT Madras is eager to partner with AAI to bring in innovation in airport and navigation management to address challenges in India aviation sector.Â

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

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.

Airport Authority of India manages 125 airports and provides air navigation services over 2.8 million square nautical miles of air space. It has been taking up Air Navigation Services (ANS) and airport infrastructure modernization plans to keep pace with the exponential growth in air traffic in India.  

As part of AAI’s ambitious ANS up gradation plans and keeping in view the need for developing in-house capabilities by establishing an efficient R&D system to support various on-going AAI initiatives indigenously, AAI has established 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 R&D.

Through this significant MoU, IIT Madras IC&SR, which has been playing a vital role in bringing together the experts from the Industry and the faculty, will collaborate with AAI to embark on joint research programs that would benefit Aviation System as a whole.