The radar and guidance systems that are being used to run operations of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport are almost three-decades-old putting to risk thousands of passengers who travel through the air destination daily.
The civil aviation ministry in a summary report on June 9 told the cabinet committee on economic affairs that some of the essential machineries of the existing radar system have become obsolete and are too outdated to be upgraded. Even if it could be upgraded it would not meet the current demands as it is too outdated.
It also pointed out that the current system works using a primary radar established in 1984 and a secondary radar set up in 1986 at a total cost of Tk176.3m. The secondary radar had a life time of 10 years. They were upgraded in 1987 at cost of Tk45.4m, in 1984 at a cost of Tk45m and lastly in 2008 at a cost of Tk150m.
The cabinet body would be deciding sometime next week on whether to install a new radar and build a control tower to improve the situation in line with the public-private partnership proposal put forward by the ministry due to fund constraint. The modernisation move is to cost Tk2bn.
When contacted, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said the replacement of the radar is essential to take the airport’s service to international level. Besides, setting up a control tower is also required to enhance its operational standard. He added that the initiatives were taken considering these issues.
Experts say the radars are vital to airfield operations and provide an essential tool from which the air traffic controllers work to control aircraft in airspace, experts said.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guideline requires the government to modernise the antiquated system of aviation management by 2017.
The report by the ministry emphasised on the need to update or install the secondary radar, Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre, Control Tower Building, VHF, Extended VHF, HF and Remote Controlled Air/Ground (RCAG) communications equipment, Master Clock, Recording system, Voice communication systems (VCCS) and new ATC centre in order to conform to the ICAO guideline and ensure safe aircraft movement on the country’s airspace.