Overview
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday, July 2, 2026 approved the country’s first Point‑in‑Space (PinS) instrument approach for helicopters at Undavalli Heliport, a procedure developed by the Airports Authority of India and cleared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
- PinS uses satellite navigation to guide a helicopter to a precise point in space from which the pilot completes the landing visually, enabling instrument approaches where conventional ground‑based aids or instrument landing systems are not available.
- Undavalli is the first private heliport to receive PinS approval, and officials say the method will improve safety and all‑weather access for services such as emergency medical flights, tourism and offshore or pilgrimage operations.
- Before routine use, operators must ensure pilot training, compatible onboard equipment and formal publication of the procedure in aeronautical information products to meet DGCA and ICAO standards.
- Authorities present the approval as part of a wider shift toward performance‑based navigation that uses India’s GAGAN satellite augmentation and says similar PinS procedures will be developed for other heliports to expand reliable helicopter connectivity.