The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday touted the government’s acquisition of a new radar for the Lynden Pindling International Airport’s Air Traffic Control division as a “dramatic improvement” of the aviation sector in the country.

Yesterday Mr Christie, with Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin, officials from the Civil Aviation Department and members of the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union led the media on a tour of the airport’s new ASR 12 radar and air traffic control facilities.

When he had completed his tour of all of the facilities, Mr Christie called the acquisition of the new radar and subsequent improvements to the area the introduction of “21st century radar operations” to the “capital and airport environment”.

He also commended Ms Hanna Martin for being “up to the task” in addressing some of the “significant challenges that she faced in aviation.”

“We’ve had arguably a very difficult process leading up to this point with respect to our capacity to effectively manage the LPIA and the airspace connected therewith,” he said.

“I’m really appreciative of the work being done down here and I most certainly will be a more avid supporter of (Ms Hanna Martin) around the table with respect with these matters that I’ve been able to observe. Last time I checked, she needed $150m to address real issues that are facing (her), in terms of improving airports, adding to the strategic perspective of airports, adding to the equipment, adding manpower. A lot of work has to be done and this minister is up to the task.”

According to Air Traffic Controller Lorenzo Carroll, the new system is composed of two radars, one primary and one secondary. The primary radar allows for controllers to “work traffic in and out of Nassau” and nearby Family Islands. To do so, the range of coverage has been extended by 20 miles, from 60 to 80.

Mounted on top of the primary radar is the secondary radar that further extends the device’s total range to 250 miles outward. That allows for controllers to accurately detect and monitor planes travelling to the Bahamas’ outermost islands, such as Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, and even Inagua.

The radar will also allow controllers to be able to detect thunderstorms and/or inclement weather anywhere within that range.

Mrs Hanna Martin yesterday said the developments displayed yesterday are just “one component of the reform of the aviation sector.”

“We’re bringing in 10 air traffic controllers as we speak,” she said. “There’s some other reforms coming that we’ll speak about in the future. We have two new persons who are being trained at LPIA by NAD who will take over management of two of our major airports, and there’s one more coming in. So we’re now moving to 21st century leadership within the islands to bring the appropriate aviation leadership. Following that will come infrastructural redevelopment. So there’s some things happening and it’s a very dynamic time in the aviation sector.

A new radar control centre is also currently under construction east of the existing air traffic control tower. Additionally, Mr Carroll yesterday told The Tribune that the government has pledged to refurbish the existing tower and eliminate its pre-existing structural problems.

According to Melanie Roach, Civil Aviation project manager, the radar is awaiting to be commissioned by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation once it is finished insulating the radar’s transformer.

She said the new radar centre is expected to be completed by the end of March 2015. The installation of the equipment - already in Nassau - is expected to take between four to six weeks.

Following the installation will be four to six months of training for air traffic controllers. The switch over to the new system is expected to take place by the end of next year.

When completed, Ms Roach the facility will be the “most modern system in the region.”

Heading into 2015, Mr Christie said the government plans to “unfold a plan” that will “embrace four or five airports in terms of immediate and significant improvements to them.”