NEW DELHI: The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) project or UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), launched by the Centre to connect unserved and underserved airports to the aviation grid, has hit a hurdle
with many defence installations and air bases falling between airports yet to be connected. Ironically, under pressure, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced the launch of the RCS project on October 21, without consulting with the Armed Forces opening up of restricted airspace for RCS commercial flights.
A senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said they would take a call on releasing of new RCS routes in consultation with the defence forces on a case-to-case basis. However, the official admitted it would delay the process of opening up of new RCS routes and discourage carriers as it would create uncertainty. The government had earlier announced starting of RCS flights by this year-end but it has been pushed to next year.
The Defence Ministry has been apprehensive about opening up air space for the new RCS routes due to security reasons, as aircraft flying on RCS routes will cover shorter distances and so would fly at low altitudes. And this is where the problem lies, which has not been resolved yet by the Civil Aviation and Defence ministries.
The restricted airspaces are around vital installations like Air Force bases, missile units, nuclear reactors or other strategically important set-ups critical to the country’s security.
Once the restricted airspace zones are opened, there will be a designated airspace for commercial RCS flights. The RCS flights would operate on different altitudes from those dedicated to military aircraft as well as currently operating domestic commercial airlines.
Official sources said an aircraft operating on an RCS routes would be flying at much lower altitudes — between 15,000 to 18,000 feet — since they will be flying for a shorter distance of up to 800 km, while scheduled domestic flights fly at an altitude of over 22,000 feet. Over two-thirds of India’s airspace is controlled by the Armed Forces (largely by the Indian Air Force), leaving less than one-third of it available for the civil aviation sector. Termed as Flexible Use of Airspace, the opening of restricted airspace zones is key to the ambitious RCS project.
Private carriers are reluctant to partner in the project as they do not find concessions lucrative enough in addition to market uncertainty at new RCS airports.