India successfully conducted its first satellite-based landing system approach for a jet-powered aircraft at Udaipur Airport

¨     On 27 June 2026, India successfully conducted its first satellite-based landing system approach for a jet-powered aircraft at Udaipur Airport.

¨     The trial was carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) using an IndiGo Airbus A320 through the GAGAN navigation system.

¨     GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) is India’s Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

¨     GAGAN enhances the accuracy of GPS signals by using geostationary satellites and ground reference stations, providing precise navigation support for civil aviation.

¨     The system supports Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approaches, which provide both horizontal and vertical guidance to aircraft during landing.

¨     LPV approaches are especially useful at airports without an Instrument Landing System (ILS), particularly at secondary airports.

¨     IndiGo introduced LPV operations on its ATR fleet in 2022 and later expanded SBAS-enabled operations across its wider fleet.

¨     The DGCA made GAGAN equipment mandatory for all aircraft registered in India after 1 July 2021.

¨     India is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to have an operational Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) and is among a select group of countries worldwide with this capability.

¨     GAGAN provides navigation accuracy of around 3 metres for civil aviation and also supports Air Traffic Management (ATM).