HAL Airport in Bengaluru became the first airport in India to operationalise the RNP CAT H satellite-guided helicopter approach procedure on 7 August 2026.
The precision navigation procedure was designed and developed by the Airports Authority of India.
It was validated through flight trials by HAL test pilots and approved by the DGCA.
The procedure cuts helicopter landing approach time from about 12 minutes to approximately four minutes.
It supports the nearly 50 helicopter movements recorded daily at Bengaluru airport.
Required Navigation Performance is a performance-based navigation system in which an aircraft uses satellite guidance and onboard avionics to hold a specified flight path to a defined level of accuracy. Rather than following a chain of ground-based navigation beacons, the aircraft flies a route defined in space and continuously monitors its own conformity to it. Category H, or CAT H, is the helicopter-specific classification for approach and landing procedures at heliports and airports handling rotary-wing aircraft. Helicopters need their own category because they approach at lower speeds, steeper angles and lower altitudes than fixed-wing aircraft, which allows tighter, more flexible paths but demands different accuracy tolerances.
Simple Analogy: Conventional navigation is like driving between signposts, taking whatever road connects them. RNP is like following a precise GPS line that can be drawn anywhere, including a shortcut no signpost marks.
General Awareness > Science, technology and aviation
Current Affairs > Aviation technology and navigation
General Awareness > Technology and infrastructure
With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1 only
A performance-based navigation system using satellite guidance and onboard avionics to maintain a specified flight path to a defined accuracy.
The helicopter-specific classification for approach and landing procedures at heliports and airports handling rotary-wing aircraft.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's civil aviation regulator, which approves flight procedures.
The body responsible for managing airports and air navigation services in India, which designed this procedure.