Installation of advanced radar systems at airport underway

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 30

A three-member team of experts from the Czech Republic is in the city to monitor the installation of Airport Surveillance Radar and Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport.

The radars will replace the conventional radar system at the airport and catapult it into the league of hi-tech airports of the country. The team will remain in the city till final tests are conducted in the first week of October.

Airport director Venkateshwar Rao said after the conclusion of final testing of the new radar system, it would be subject to operational inspection and a mandatory licence from the aviation regulatory body, the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The required infrastructure to install the state-of-the-art airport surveillance radar and monopulse secondary surveillance radar has already come up at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) building. The new radar system would be operated by the airport traffic automation system.

Apart from consolidating air surveillance and traffic around the airport, these hi-tech gadgets would curtail fuel wastage that takes place during the hovering of flights around the airport waiting clearance to land at the airport. This will help in ensuring timely landing and taking off for various flights at the airport.

The staff at the ATC will come to know about the movement of aircraft even when these are 80 miles away. These radars will enable the ground staff at the ATS to learn the position of the approaching aircraft with a mono pulse.

The construction of the building was started after the Airport Authority of India (AAI) approved the installation of these two different kinds of radars which would boost the aviation vigilance at the key airport.

He said the AAI approved this hi-tech gadget for the city’s airport as devotees and passengers from various parts of the world and the country visit it and the stress is on providing them a hassle-free pilgrimage.