India has inaugurated its first SkyCast System at Indira Gandhi International Airport, marking a major advancement in aviation weather monitoring and flight safety.
The facility was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, who described it as the beginning of a new era in Indian aviation. With this installation, India has become the 19th country in the world to deploy such an integrated atmospheric remote sensing system, joining a select group of nations that possess this advanced technology.
Expansion Plans
Following the installation at Delhi Airport, the next SkyCast facility is planned for Noida International Airport (Jewar Airport), with further expansion envisaged across major airports in the country.
What is SkyCast?
SkyCast is an integrated atmospheric observation and forecasting system designed to provide real-time weather intelligence for aviation operations. It combines multiple remote sensing technologies to monitor:
- Fog formation and intensity
- Wind speed and direction
- Atmospheric turbulence
- Vertical air movements
- Cloud base height
- High-impact weather events affecting aviation
The system is expected to significantly improve the safety of aircraft take-offs and landings, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
Key Technologies Integrated in SkyCast
The SkyCast platform combines several advanced atmospheric monitoring instruments:
- Radar Wind Profiler (RWP)
- SODAR (Sonic Detection and Ranging)
- Microwave Radiometer
- Ground-based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer (GFAS)
- CL61 Lidar-based Ceilometer
Together, these technologies provide continuous, real-time atmospheric data for airport authorities, air traffic controllers, and pilots.
Source: AIR
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