Delhi Airport Deploys SkyCast to Cut Fog-Related Delays

Enhancing Operational Resilience at IGI Airport

India has officially inaugurated its first SkyCast system at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, a strategic move designed to mitigate the chronic impact of winter fog-related flight delays. Developed under the Indian government’s Mission Mausam initiative, the platform integrates advanced atmospheric sensors to provide real-time aviation weather intelligence. This deployment marks India as the 19th country globally to utilize such an integrated atmospheric remote sensing system, significantly upgrading the nation's capacity for precision meteorology.

The Technology Behind the Nowcast

The implementation of SkyCast represents a shift from reactive weather monitoring to proactive, high-resolution predictive modeling. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the system is capable of assessing atmospheric conditions from the surface up to nearly 10 kilometers for thermodynamic profiling and up to 3 kilometers for wind observations. By generating automated, short-term operational weather nowcasts updated every 5 minutes, the system provides aircrew and air traffic control with critical advance alerts within a 3-hour window. This capability is supported by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which built upon research from the 2015-2016 Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX) to address Delhi’s unique pollution-induced fog dynamics.

Technical Comparison: SkyCast vs. Traditional Systems

Stakeholder Impact and Regulatory Context

For airlines operating at Delhi Airport, such as Air India and IndiGo, the system offers a tangible path toward reducing fuel burn caused by extended holding patterns and costly flight diversions. Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), noted that the data empowers controllers to make informed decisions during rapidly deteriorating conditions. However, the system operates within a strict regulatory framework. While SkyCast provides predictive intelligence, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates that actual landings in dense fog require CAT III-B Instrument Landing System (ILS) compliant aircraft and specially certified flight crews. Aviation industry analysts point out that while SkyCast improves situational awareness, it does not bypass these fundamental safety certification requirements.

Future Expansion and Strategic Outlook

The integration of the Ground-based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer (GFAS) and Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR) technology positions Delhi as a leader in urban-environment weather monitoring. Looking ahead, the government has confirmed that the Noida International Airport (Jewar) is slated to be the second facility in India to receive the SkyCast system. This expansion is expected to enhance the operational competitiveness of the region's airport network. As the industry continues to face pressure from climate-related disruptions, the adoption of nowcasting technology at major hubs — similar to systems at Heathrow and Singapore Changi — signals a broader trend toward data-driven airport management. The India Meteorological Department and the DGCA continue to oversee the integration of these tools into standard Low Visibility Procedures (LVP).