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Juhu airport first in India to get hi-tech weather system

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By the end of this week, the Juhu airport is expected to become the first in India to have a highly advanced weather system that will automatically update pilots every minute with information which is currently supplied manually every half an hour.

According to Juhu airport officials, the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), which is being installed by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), will go a long way in enhancing the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations. A similar system is already operational in countries like US and Canada.

"A NOTAM (notice to airmen) regarding the system is expected to come within a day or two," said a senior official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

According to airport sources, the latest technology will enable the IMD to automatically send minute-wise weather updates in the form of audio messages directly to the pilot. The pilot can choose to receive this information every two or three minutes. Presently, the IMD passes on this information manually to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) every 20 to 30 minutes. The ATC then passes it on to the pilot, officials said.

A pilot is required to know wind speeds and wind gusts, wind direction, temperature and dew point, visibility, density altitude, cloud ceiling, rain-snow-drizzle identification, thunder storm, lightening, etc. The IMD has approached the AAI for space to install the device inside Juhu airport.

Insiders say the AWOS will be completely based on solar power and will have additional features. The weather updates will also be available via text messages or the internet.

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