Question : AVIATION WEATHER STATIONS

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(a) the number and details of weather stations for aviation and airports in the country, State/UT/location-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware that there are no aviation weather stations in various important industrial centres in the country including Rourkela in Odisha;

(c) if so, whether the Ministry has any proposals for either installation of navigation aids or weather stations to prevent potential air crashes in such places;

(d) if so, the details thereof, location-wise and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION SHRI AJIT SINGH)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED (#) QUESTION NO.237 FOR 13.03.2013 REGARDir` AVIATION WEATHER STATIONS.

(a): There are 72 Civil Aeronautical Met Stations (AMS) and Aerodrome Met Office (AMO) rendering meteorological services in India. The detail are at Annexure-1. In addition, there are a number of Meteorological offices, Radar stations, Upper Air stations, Pilot Balloon stations, and Automatic Weather Stations, Satellite Centers, data from which are also utilized for aviation met services.

(b) & (c): Aviation Weather stations are intended for airports only and not meant for any industrial centers. However, AAI has installed various navigational aids like Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range(VORs) & Non-Directional Beacon (NDBs) at airports and along the Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes for safe navigation of aircraft. AAI is in continuous process of modernisation of Communication Navigation Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems at the airports and in Indian airspace. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) who provides met services at the airports has also initiated the process of upgrading the met equipment installed at the airports.

(d) & (e): The details of various navigational aids location-wise installed by AAK are at Annexure-2. A list of airports where AAI has requested IMD to upgrade/modernise its met equipment is at Annexure-3.