India is serving as a testing ground for Honeywell International Inc.’s new software, designed to facilitate communication between pilots and air traffic controllers by deciphering English spoken with strong local accents. The conglomerate, responding to the government’s request, aims to improve safety in the aviation sector, especially with the increased demand for pilots in smaller airports across India, where diverse dialects pose a language challenge.
Honeywell is developing software that can automatically transcribe and interpret accents, addressing the issue of miscommunication, which globally poses a safety threat in air travel. The initiative is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to expand regional connectivity by integrating smaller airports into the growing aviation market. This expansion brings pilots with various accents, stemming from the more than 6,000 dialects spoken in the country.
Neelu Khatri, President of Honeywell’s aerospace business in South Asia, emphasized the language barrier within India and the need for a solution, especially in the context of regional connectivity schemes. The project, initially implemented in India, holds potential for global expansion. Khatri highlighted Honeywell’s engineering expertise in India, allowing the customization of solutions tailored to local needs.
While the project is in collaboration with the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAI’s spokesperson was not aware of the development. India’s air traffic is growing, fueled by a rising middle class with increased disposable income and government initiatives like the regional connectivity scheme (Udan). This scheme subsidizes airline losses for flights to remote areas, contributing to the success of rural connectivity programs and the utilization of previously underused airports.
As India aims to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020 and the world’s largest by 2030, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation, technology solutions like Honeywell’s accent-transcription software are crucial for ensuring effective communication and safety in the aviation sector. Honeywell envisions the continued success of the Udan scheme connecting even the smallest cities and air force stations in the future.