CAA signs contract to replace old radars at airports

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided to install new radars in the country over the next 18 months. A contract for purchasing and installing new radars was signed Monday.

On this occasion, CAA Deputy Director General Air Vice Marshal Khawar Hussain said that the provision of navigational facilities to airlines was a major source of foreign exchange for the authority. “Installation of the new radars will not only double Pakistan’s air traffic but it will also increase CAA’s revenue”, he said.

The signing ceremony for the purchase and installation of the new radar systems was held at CAA Headquarters Karachi. CAA) deputy DG and Spanish company INDRA Vice President Francisco Navarro signed the contract.

According to the contract of $9.6 million, in the first phase, the primary and secondary radars at Jinnah International Airport Karachi and Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore will be replaced with new ones. Radars at other locations will also be changed within the next 18 months.

Talking to media, CAA deputy DG said the installation of new radar system will not only improve the quality of coverage and increase the safety of flights but will also double Pakistan’s air traffic. “Changing the current radars will reduce the distance between aircrafts hence accommodating more aircrafts in Pakistan’s air space at one time.

According to CAA deputy DG in the next three years CAA’s communications, navigation and surveillance system will be completely upgraded. In this regard, different projects are underway simultaneously.

The ongoing projects/developments comprise replacement of complete infrastructure including Nationwide Online connectivity, Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC), Automatic Dependent Surveillance Contract and Broadcast (ADS-C and ADS-B), Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Doppler VORs (DVORs), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and Digital Airport Terminal Information Systems (DATIS).

CAA will not only achieve the targets of international standards but will also attract more business from the aviation sector of the region.