Aviation weather intelligence: Delhi airport launches SKYCAST for real-time fog and wind shear alerts

Delhi airport has introduced an integrated weather intelligence system for aviation safety. The facility issues live warnings for fog, turbulence, and other hazards. The Ministry of Science & Technology and DIAL inaugurated SKYCAST at the airport on Friday. SKYCAST is described as the country’s first integrated aviation weather intelligence and nowcasting facility.

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Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said the system supports busy operations at the airport. Delhi airport handles over 1,300 flight movements daily. The setup is designed to track fast-changing conditions near the runway. It aims to improve situational awareness for teams managing aircraft movement.

Delhi airport SKYCAST system issues real-time aviation hazard alerts

DIAL said SKYCAST can detect several high-risk weather events. These include wind shear, fog, inversions, low-level jets, icing, and turbulence. The system can study conditions from the surface to nearly 10 kilometres altitude. It also observes winds across several kilometres to aid operations.

The release said SKYCAST also feeds operational tools used at airports. It supports outputs for the Integrated Wind Shear Alerting System (IWAS). It also provides convective initiation forecasts and fog evolution trends. The system produces short-term operational nowcasts that update every five minutes.

Delhi airport SKYCAST uses atmospheric sensors for profiling

DIAL said SKYCAST runs on continuous monitoring of key atmospheric measures. These include temperature and humidity profiles and water vapour density. It also tracks cloud liquid water content and wind speed and direction. The system also captures vertical wind structures and high-resolution winds near the surface.

The system combines several instruments for detailed readings. These include a Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) and Microwave Profiling Radiometer (MPR). It also uses SODAR, or Sonic Detection and Ranging, and Automated Weather Stations (AWS). Together, they provide high-resolution wind and thermodynamic profiling.

Delhi airport SKYCAST aligns with global aviation weather intelligence systems

The release said similar systems operate at major international hubs. These include Hong Kong, Heathrow UK, John F Kennedy US, and Singapore Changi airports. The same approach is also used at NASA and Cape Canaveral facilities. These sites use such tools for aviation and launch weather monitoring.

With SKYCAST now in place, Delhi airport adds a structured method for short-term weather tracking. The system brings sensor data into one platform for frequent updates. Officials said it can warn of hazards that affect take-off and landing. The focus remains on safer, smoother planning for daily flight movements.

With inputs from PTI