India approves first satellite-guided helicopter landing procedure

India has approved its first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to modernise helicopter navigation through satellite-based technology.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said the procedure, developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been introduced at Undavalli Heliport in Andhra Pradesh. Designed in line with DGCA regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices, the PinS procedure enables helicopters to carry out precise instrument approaches to heliports without conventional instrument landing infrastructure.

Unlike traditional visual approaches, PinS procedures use advanced satellite-based navigation technology, allowing helicopters to operate safely under instrument flight rules (IFR), particularly during adverse weather conditions and in areas where ground-based navigation aids are unavailable.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu described the approval as the beginning of “a new era” in helicopter operations.

“The introduction of India’s first PinS Instrument Approach Procedure marks the beginning of a new era in helicopter operations by significantly enhancing flight safety, operational efficiency and all-weather accessibility,” Naidu said.

He added that the government remains focused on adopting modern technologies to make helicopter services “more reliable and more accessible across the country,” noting that the first phase of this year’s Char Dham helicopter operations was completed without any incident with the support of upgraded technological infrastructure.

The minister said the latest approval builds on India’s push towards satellite-based navigation in aviation.

“Just last week, we successfully demonstrated the country’s first indigenous GAGAN-based precision approach by a commercial aircraft. The introduction of the country’s first PinS Instrument Approach Procedure is another major milestone in this journey,” he said.

According to the ministry, the approval is expected to pave the way for similar PinS procedures across the country, improving helicopter connectivity to remote and strategically important locations while reducing weather-related disruptions.

The technology is expected to benefit a wide range of operations, including emergency medical services, disaster relief, offshore activities, tourism, pilgrimage services, corporate aviation and regional connectivity.

The ministry said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader objective of modernising aviation infrastructure through performance-based navigation (PBN), expanding the use of indigenous satellite-based navigation technologies and bringing India’s helicopter ecosystem in line with global best practices.