The country's first advanced weather intelligence and nowcasting system, SkyCast, was inaugurated at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Friday. This marks a major step towards improving aviation safety and reducing weather-related disruptions.
The system was launched by Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh and is expected to strengthen flight operations by providing accurate, real-time weather information to pilots, air traffic controllers and airport authorities.
Advanced weather alerts for safer flight operations
SkyCast has been designed to monitor rapidly changing weather conditions that can affect aircraft movements. The platform combines multiple technologies, including remote sensing tools, atmospheric profiling systems and nowcasting capabilities, to generate short-term weather forecasts and alerts.
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Speaking at the inauguration, Singh said the technology would help minimise disruptions caused by adverse weather.
Union MoS (I/C) Jitendra Singh inaugurate India’s first 'Sky Cast' System at IGI Airport /ANI
"The system will provide advance alerts to aircrew and pilots even within a short time window of around three hours, enabling them to determine the safest time for landing and avoid unnecessary diversions, cancellations and delays," the minister said.
Special focus on fog and severe weather conditions
According to Singh, the system is equipped to monitor fog, turbulence and other high-impact weather events that often challenge airport operations.
"It combines multiple atmospheric observation technologies for fog monitoring, turbulence detection and high-impact weather forecasting. It also includes advanced fog monitoring instruments, which are particularly important for cities like Delhi, where pollution particles interact with fog and affect visibility," he said, adding that vertical profiles of wind, humidity and temperature would improve weather forecasting.
Real-time monitoring and hazard detection
Officials from GMR Aero said SkyCast continuously tracks several atmospheric parameters, including temperature, humidity, cloud liquid water content, water vapour density, wind speed and direction, and vertical wind structures.
Union MoS (I/C) Jitendra Singh during the launch of India’s first 'Sky Cast' System at IGI Airport /ANI
The system can also identify potential aviation hazards such as wind shear, fog, temperature inversions, low-level jets, icing and turbulence. Weather updates and operational nowcasts are generated every five minutes, allowing quicker responses during changing conditions.
Delhi leads, Jewar next in line
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said the technology would improve decision-making across airport operations.
"SkyCast is an important step forward in making Delhi airport safer and more resilient for travellers. Weather can change very quickly, and having access to accurate, real-time information makes a difference on the ground and in the air. This system will help our teams, pilots and air traffic controllers make quicker, more informed decisions."
India has become the 19th country to deploy an integrated aviation weather monitoring system. Singh also announced that the upcoming Jewar airport will be the second airport in the country to be equipped with SkyCast.
