AAI NOC is the No Objection Certificate from the Airports Authority of India that confirms your building, tower or other structure will not obstruct flight paths near an airport. Whether you need one depends on your site’s distance and height, which an airport NOC survey establishes before filing.
AAI NOC at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full form | Airports Authority of India No Objection Certificate (height clearance) |
| Issued by | Designated Officer of AAI, on behalf of the Central Government |
| Legal basis | GSR 751(E), notified 30 September 2015 |
| Applied through | NOCAS, AAI’s online portal |
| Key inputs | WGS-84 coordinates and site elevation in metres AMSL |
| Validity | 8 years, with one-time revalidation in defined cases |
| Application fee | None for the standard height NOC |
| Maximum processing time | 15 working days from receipt in NOCAS |
What Does AAI NOC Mean?
An AAI NOC, also called a height clearance NOC, is written confirmation that a proposed structure’s top elevation stays within the limit permitted at that exact location. That limit is called the Permissible Top Elevation (PTE). NOCAS calculates it from the site coordinates using the airport’s obstacle limitation surfaces and navigation-aid criteria.
The NOC is about airspace safety only. It does not approve your building plan, land use or fire safety. Your municipal permit is a separate approval, and one does not replace the other.
The Law Behind It: GSR 751(E)
The requirement comes from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Height Restrictions for Safeguarding of Aircraft Operations) Rules, 2015, notified as GSR 751(E) on 30 September 2015. The rules aim to keep airspace around aerodromes clear so aircraft can operate safely and the airport does not become unusable as obstacles grow. For a plain-language breakdown, read our guide to GSR 751(E) airport NOC rules.
Who Needs an AAI NOC?
Anyone who builds, extends or installs a structure inside the regulated zone around an airport. That includes:
- Buildings: residential towers, commercial complexes and additional floors on existing buildings. See our building height clearance AAI NOC guide.
- Telecom masts: mobile and broadcast towers. Read the telecom and mobile tower airport NOC rules.
- Solar projects: see solar power project AAI NOC.
- Wind turbines: see wind turbine and windmill AAI NOC.
- Chimneys, poles, power transmission lines, billboards, flyovers, roads and railway lines. AAI’s own circular lists these among the structures it examines.
Developers, individual plot owners, telecom operators, power utilities and government bodies all fall under the same rule. A crane that rises above the NOC’s top elevation can also need separate permission from the airport operator, so plan for it early.
How Far From the Airport Does the Rule Apply?
Distance is measured from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP) and depends on the airport type. AAI’s auto-settle criteria are the clearest guide: a proposal beyond 20 km of a VFR airport or beyond 56 km of an IFR airport, with a height below 150 m AGL, is cleared automatically with a system-generated “NOC not required” letter.
| Airport type | Distance from ARP | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| VFR (visual flight rules) | 20 km | Inside this radius, NOCAS or CCZM checks apply |
| IFR (instrument flight rules) | 56 km | Larger zone because of instrument approach procedures |
| Defence aerodrome | Set by the defence authority | Handled separately, not through AAI NOCAS |
Not sure which type your nearest airport is? Our explainer on VFR vs IFR airport NOC distance zones covers it.
Colour Coded Zoning Map (CCZM)
For airports where AAI has published a Colour Coded Zoning Map, the map shows the permitted top elevation for each grid. If your requested top elevation is at or below the map’s value, no AAI application is needed. If it is higher, you must apply through NOCAS. Read how it works in our colour coded zoning map (CCZM) guide.
Remember that CCZM works in metres above mean sea level, not floors. Two plots a few hundred metres apart can have very different limits.
Who Does Not Need an AAI NOC?
You may not need one if:
- your site is beyond 20 km (VFR) or 56 km (IFR) of the airport and under 150 m AGL; or
- your top elevation is within the CCZM permitted elevation for your grid.
Confirm this through NOCAS or a surveyor’s feasibility check, and keep the written result. Assumptions are the most common source of trouble later.
Sites Near Military Airfields
AAI NOCAS covers civil aerodromes. For military airfields, responsibility rests with the defence authority, and buildings near defence establishments follow a different process. A site can need both a civil and a defence clearance. See defence IAF height clearance NOC and defence NOC in India.
How to Get an AAI NOC: Step by Step
- Check applicability. Find the nearest airport, its type and the CCZM status of your plot.
- Get a certified survey. A surveyor records WGS-84 coordinates and site elevation (AMSL). Our site elevation survey for airport NOC page explains the fieldwork.
- Register and file on NOCAS. Upload scanned documents and undertakings. No hard copies are required. Follow our NOCAS portal application process.
- Respond to queries. AAI may raise remarks. Quick, consistent replies keep the file moving.
- Receive the NOC. AAI issues it online and emails it to you. Local bodies can also view issued NOCs on the NOCAS site.
Where a city’s building-permission portal is integrated with NOCAS (Delhi and Mumbai were the first), you apply through the local body’s common application form instead.
Documents and Survey Data Required
For buildings, chimneys and masts, AAI’s circular asks for:
- certified site coordinates in WGS-84;
- certified site elevation in metres AMSL;
- Undertaking 1A, which also covers the authorisation letter if someone other than the owner or lessee applies; and
- permission from the airport operator if the structure lies inside airport premises.
The survey rules are specific:
- Plots above 300 sq m need coordinates and elevation for all corners, plus the point nearest the airport.
- Plots of 300 sq m or less need one coordinate, the point nearest the airport.
- The highest ground elevation on the plot is the one considered.
- Elevation accuracy must be within 0.5 m AMSL. Coordinates must be in DD MM SS.s format with position accuracy within 3 m.
Certificates can come from Survey of India, CPWD or State PWD, other government-authorised agencies, or licensed surveyors, architects and engineers authorised by the local body. See the full documents required for airport height clearance NOC, the NOCAS application documentation checklist, and how an AMSL elevation certificate is prepared. Precise field data comes from a proper DGPS survey.
Timeline, Validity and Cost
Timeline. AAI’s circular sets a maximum of 15 working days from the date the application is received in NOCAS. Real timelines depend on remarks and resubmissions. See our AAI NOC approval timeline for what to expect in practice.
Validity. An AAI NOC is valid for 8 years from issue. One-time revalidation without fresh assessment is possible if construction has started and the delay was beyond the developer’s control, and the request is made within the validity period. If construction never starts, you must apply again and the height is reassessed.
Fee. AAI does not charge for applying for or obtaining a standard height NOC. Fees apply to an appeal (₹2 lakh plus GST) and an aeronautical study (₹20 lakh plus GST) under AAI’s 2017 circular. Confirm current amounts on NOCAS. Surveyor and consultant charges are separate.
If You Get Less Height Than Requested
You can file one review application with the Designated Officer. You can also appeal to the Appellate Committee within the NOC’s validity period. Once a height is granted, it cannot be reduced on review or appeal during the validity period. The NOC is deemed transferred to a new owner or lessee, who is bound by its conditions.
What Happens If You Build Without an NOC?
A municipal permit does not protect you. Authorities can order a structure to be cut down or demolished if it breaches the permitted height. Per legal reports, the aircraft obstruction-removal rules were revised in 2026 under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, to strengthen enforcement. NOC conditions also bind you: if surveyed data differs from what you declared, the NOC can be treated as null and void.
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection or Delay
- Using map-based coordinates instead of surveyed data
- Missing corner coordinates on plots above 300 sq m
- Mismatch between survey, drawings and application
- Raising height after approval without a revised NOC
- Assuming a neighbour’s height applies to your plot
Our guide to airport NOC rejection reasons explains each in detail.
AAI NOC vs DGCA vs Municipal Approval
AAI issues the height NOC for civil aerodromes. DGCA is the civil aviation regulator and has an enforcement role in removing obstructions. The municipal body sanctions the building plan. You may need all of them. See AAI NOC vs DGCA clearance for the difference.
Airport NOC Survey by City
Local airport knowledge speeds up the zone check. We support projects in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bhopal and more. General restrictions are summarised in our building height restrictions near airports guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AAI NOC in simple words?
It is a certificate from the Airports Authority of India saying your proposed structure’s height will not endanger aircraft operations near an airport.
Is AAI NOC mandatory for every building?
No. It is needed only for sites inside the regulated zone whose height exceeds what the CCZM permits, or where no CCZM applies. Sites beyond 20 km of a VFR airport or 56 km of an IFR airport and under 150 m AGL are auto-settled.
Who issues the AAI NOC?
A Designated Officer of AAI issues it through the NOCAS portal on behalf of the Central Government.
How long is an AAI NOC valid?
8 years from the date of issue, with one-time revalidation if construction has started and the delay was beyond your control.
Is there a fee for AAI NOC?
No fee for the standard height NOC application. Appeals and aeronautical studies are charged.
Does a municipal approval replace AAI NOC?
No. They are separate approvals issued by different authorities.
Can I transfer the NOC if I sell the plot?
Yes. It is deemed transferred to the new owner or lessee, who must follow its conditions.
Need Help With Your AAI NOC?
Send your plot location and proposed height, and our team will check whether an NOC applies before you invest in design. Visit Surveying India or contact us. You can verify rules and file directly on AAI’s official NOCAS portal and the Ministry of Civil Aviation website. Always confirm current limits for your coordinates before finalising design.
Last updated: 28 October 2026. This guide is informational and does not replace the NOC issued for your site.
