Project ISHAN

Source- This post on Project ISHAN is based on the article “One nation, one airspace’: India’s project ISHAN to streamline air traffic, benefit airlines and passengers” published in “WION” on 30th April 2024.

Why in the News?

With the idea of One nation, one airspace, India has initiated Project ISHAN (Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management) at Nagpur. This project aims to enhance the capacity of the aviation industry to handle the increasing domestic passenger numbers, which has been predicted to double by 2030.

About Project ISHAN

1. About Project ISHAN: It is an integration initiative which seek to merge India’s four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai into one airspace around Nagpur.

Note: In aviation, a flight information region (FIR) is a specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service (ALRS) are provided.

2. Aim: The aim behind the initiative is to reduce carbon footprint, enhance safety, and reduce aircraft fuel usage.

3. Advantages: A single flight information region (FIR) created as part of Project ISHAN would offer numerous advantages in terms of safety, efficiency, user satisfaction, reduced carbon footprint, and optimal manpower utilization.

4. Challenges in implementing the ISHAN Initiative: There are several challenges in implementation such as standardization of technology, revision of procedures, and formulation of new policies.

For the better implementation of ISHAN initiative, there will be requirement of Uniform technology implementation across all regions, comprehensive retraining of air traffic control officers, policy reforms and updates to accommodate new processes and technologies.

UPSC Syllabus: Infrastructure