India first SKYCAST system operational at Delhi airport

A new integrated weather intelligence system designed to enhance aviation safety and reduce weather-related disruptions became operational at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday. The facility, named SKYCAST, is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Science and Technology and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

The system represents India’s first comprehensive, real-time atmospheric monitoring platform specifically for aviation. It integrates multiple advanced remote sensing technologies, including a Radar Wind Profiler, a Microwave Profiling Radiometer, Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR) equipment, and Automated Weather Stations. This network enables continuous monitoring of critical parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and cloud liquid water content from the surface up to an altitude of nearly 10 kilometers.

A core function of SKYCAST is its automated nowcasting and hazard alerting capability. The system detects and provides real-time alerts for aviation hazards including wind shear, fog, turbulence, icing, and low-level jets. It supports short-term operational forecasts updated every five minutes, which...