Bengaluru's HAL airport becomes India's first to launch satellite-guided helicopter approach

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport in Bengaluru has become the first airport in the country to operationalise the Required Navigation Performance – Category H (RNP CAT H) helicopter approach procedure. The satellite-guided precision navigation system is designed exclusively for helicopters, allowing them to operate with high accuracy in all weather conditions.

The procedure was developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), validated through flight trials by HAL test pilots, and formally approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It enables helicopters to follow highly optimised flight paths, safely navigating terrain and urban obstacles while significantly reducing approach time. According to HAL, the approach time to the airport has been brought down from 12 minutes to about four minutes.

Ravi K., Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, said, “This capability enhances the safety, efficiency and accessibility of helicopter operations, and establishes a benchmark for similar procedures to be implemented in airports across the country.” The system is expected to improve operational efficiency and airspace capacity, allow smoother integration of rotary and fixed-wing traffic, and reduce the noise footprint over cities. It also provides faster and safer routes for critical missions such as air ambulance and rescue operations.

The HAL airport, which ceased commercial airline operations in 2008 after the opening of Kempegowda International Airport, continues to serve military flight testing and charter operations. It handles nearly 50 helicopter movements every day. With this launch, HAL says it has addressed a long-standing gap in India’s aviation infrastructure, paving the way for safer and more efficient helicopter operations across the country.

The RNP CAT H procedure is part of a broader push by Indian aviation authorities to adopt modern navigation technologies that enhance safety and capacity. Similar procedures are expected to be implemented at other airports, particularly those with helicopter operations and challenging terrain.