NOCAS Application Documentation — Complete Document Checklist
NOCAS rejects and delays more applications over paperwork than over height. AAI’s system is unforgiving in one specific way: once you submit, you cannot edit the application — so if a document is in the wrong format, a coordinate doesn’t match a certificate, or an undertaking is missing a signature, the file sits in remarks instead of moving forward. This page walks through exactly what NOCAS application documentation requires, structure by structure, so your filing goes in clean the first time.
What Documentation Does a NOCAS Application Actually Need?
NOCAS — the No Objection Certificate Application System — is a paperless portal, but “paperless” doesn’t mean document-light. You still need to prepare, format, and upload scanned copies of a defined set of certificates and undertakings before AAI will process your height clearance case. The exact document list changes slightly depending on the structure type — building, mast, chimney, transmission line, windmill, or solar installation — but a core set applies to almost every application.
Core Documents Required for Every NOCAS Application
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Site Coordinates Certificate (WGS-84 datum) | Establishes exact plot location for AAI’s height calculation |
| Site Elevation Certificate (AMSL) | Establishes ground elevation, accurate to 0.5 m |
| Ownership or lease proof | Confirms the applicant’s legal right to file for the plot |
| Undertaking on Form 1A (non-judicial stamp paper) | Applicant’s declaration of accuracy and compliance, required when the application isn’t filed directly by the owner |
| Authorisation letter | Required if a consultant, architect, or EPC contractor files on the applicant’s behalf |
| Location / site plan | Shows the plot boundary and proposed structure position |
| Recommendation from local/municipal planning authority | Supports the requested height where locally applicable |
Structure-Specific Documentation
Buildings additionally need architectural drawings (typically two sets, in the metric system) and, where applicable, sanctioned building plan approval from the local municipal or development authority.
Masts, chimneys, and transmission lines need the specific undertaking format for that structure category — Form 1B for power transmission lines, Form 1C for mast/chimney/transmission line revalidation, and technical specifications of the installation.
Windmills require the windmill-specific undertaking (Form 1F) along with turbine specification data — hub height, rotor diameter, and total tip height — since AAI reviews the maximum rotational height, not just the tower.
Solar power projects need a site layout showing all elevated components (tracker structures, poles, inverter platforms) and a single-line diagram, in addition to the standard coordinate and elevation certificates.
Wireless communication masts (SACFA cases) are handled differently — applicants file with the SACFA Secretariat (WPC Wing, DoT) rather than applying to AAI separately, and the data is fetched into NOCAS automatically once SACFA processes it.
Format Requirements That Trip Up Applications
A large share of NOCAS remarks come down to formatting, not missing paperwork:
- WGS-84 coordinates must be expressed to 1/10th of a second (DD°MM’SS.s” format), covering a minimum of four corner points of the plot — including the point nearest the airport
- Site elevation must be stated in metres AMSL with 0.5 m accuracy
- Certificates must be issued by an authorised party — a licensed surveyor, architect, engineer, or an AAI-empanelled surveyor. Certificates from the Survey of India are explicitly not accepted for this purpose
- File size and type — each scanned document uploaded to NOCAS is capped at 500 KB, so certificates and drawings need to be prepared and compressed to fit before filing
- No post-submission edits — once the application is submitted, none of the entered data can be changed, so every certificate needs to be cross-checked against every other document before you click submit
How Documentation Preparation Fits the Overall NOCAS Process
- Confirm applicability — Check your coordinates against the airport’s Colour Coded Zone Map to establish whether a full application is even required.
- Commission the site elevation and coordinates survey — this produces the two certificates that anchor the entire application.
- Compile structure-specific documents — drawings, specification sheets, ownership proof, and the relevant undertaking form for your structure type.
- Cross-verify every document — coordinates on the elevation certificate, ownership documents, and site plan all need to match exactly; a mismatch is one of the most common causes of remarks.
- Register and file online — documents are uploaded as scanned PDFs through the applicant’s NOCAS dashboard.
- Respond to remarks promptly — if AAI flags a discrepancy, a fast, correctly formatted response prevents the file from stalling in the queue.
- Receive and retain the NOC — once issued, keep the certificate and all supporting documents on file for the validity period and any future revalidation.
Why Documentation Errors Are the Real Delay Risk
Applicants tend to assume height is what gets an application rejected, but in practice, most delays trace back to documentation — a certificate not in AAI’s prescribed format, coordinates that don’t match between the site plan and the elevation certificate, or an undertaking missing a required clause. Because NOCAS doesn’t allow edits after submission, catching these issues before filing is the only way to avoid a full resubmission cycle.
Why Get Your NOCAS Documentation Prepared by Surveying India
- Certificates prepared in AAI’s exact prescribed format for site coordinates and elevation, cross-checked before filing
- In-house DGPS and Total Station survey teams, so coordinate and elevation data comes from the same source — cutting down transcription mismatches between the survey and the certificate
- Direct, hands-on NOCAS filing experience across building, solar, and wind turbine applications, including how to respond to remarks without losing weeks on avoidable resubmissions
- Every application starts with the same certified site elevation survey our team runs for every structure type, so the documentation and the underlying survey data are always consistent
- Over a decade of survey and documentation work delivered for government bodies, PSUs, and private developers across airport-regulated zones in India, including our city teams in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Kota, and Bhopal
Not sure which documents your NOCAS application needs? Tell us your structure type and site location, and we’ll confirm the exact document list, prepare the certificates in AAI’s required format, and handle the filing so nothing comes back in remarks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are required for a NOCAS application? At minimum: a site coordinates certificate (WGS-84), a site elevation certificate (AMSL), ownership or lease proof, an undertaking on Form 1A, a location/site plan, and structure-specific documents such as architectural drawings or turbine specifications.
Can I edit documents or data after submitting a NOCAS application? No. Once the application is submitted, the entered data cannot be modified, so every document must be verified for accuracy and consistency before filing.
What format do WGS-84 coordinates need to be in for NOCAS? Coordinates must be expressed to 1/10th of a second in the DD°MM’SS.s” format, covering a minimum of four corner points of the plot, including the point nearest the airport.
Who can issue the site elevation and coordinates certificate for NOCAS? A licensed surveyor, architect, engineer, or an AAI-empanelled surveyor. Certificates issued by the Survey of India are not accepted for this purpose.
Is there a file size limit for documents uploaded to NOCAS? Yes. Each scanned document uploaded through the portal must be under 500 KB, so certificates and drawings need to be prepared and compressed accordingly.
What documents does a windmill or solar project need in addition to standard documents? Windmills require the Form 1F undertaking and turbine specification data (hub height, rotor diameter, tip height). Solar projects require a layout plan of all elevated components and a single-line diagram, alongside the standard site coordinates and elevation certificates.
Regulatory reference: NOCAS document requirements, prescribed certificate formats, and undertaking forms are published by the Airports Authority of India on the official AAI NOCAS portal. Always confirm the current document list for your specific structure type before filing.