Directorate General of Civil Aviation has approved India’s first satellite-based Point-in-Space instrument approach procedure for helicopter operations at Undavalli Heliport in Andhra Pradesh.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation cleared the private PinS procedure on July 1. The Airports Authority of India developed it in line with DGCA rules and International Civil Aviation Organization standards. The procedure uses satellite navigation to guide helicopters during landing.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the approval marks the start of a new era in helicopter operations. He noted that it will improve flight safety, operational efficiency and all-weather access. The minister also highlighted the government’s focus on modern technology to make helicopter services more reliable across the country.
The PinS procedure allows helicopters to follow a precise satellite-guided path to a point in space near the heliport. From there, pilots can continue visually to land. It removes the need for traditional ground-based navigation aids like instrument landing systems. Helicopters can now operate under instrument flight rules even in poor weather or at sites without expensive ground infrastructure.
The new system supports safer flights in remote and challenging areas. It benefits services such as emergency medical response, disaster relief, pilgrimage transport, offshore operations and tourism. Officials expect similar procedures at other heliports in the coming months.
This approval forms part of India’s wider push to modernise aviation navigation. It follows the recent successful demonstration of the country’s first GAGAN-based precision approach by a commercial jet. The move aligns with performance-based navigation goals and reduces reliance on costly ground equipment.
India’s civil aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years. Helicopter operations play a key role in connecting hilly regions, islands and remote locations. The DGCA and AAI continue to expand the use of indigenous satellite technology like GAGAN to enhance safety and efficiency across the network.
