THE BARBADOS GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INSTALL, NEW RADAR AND AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY AT THE GRANTLEY ADAMS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IT IS AIMED AT HELPING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MANAGE THE GROWING NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT, ENTERING THE COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE.
MINISTER OF TOURISM AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT IAN GOODING-EDGHILL SAYS THE UPGRADE, ANNOUNCED DURING DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, WILL IMPROVE BOTH SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY AS BARBADOS EXPERIENCES RECORD AIRLIFT.
A KEY PART OF THE PROJECT IS A NEW MONOPULSE SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR SYSTEM, VALUED AT ABOUT $7.2 MILLION DOLLARS.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, THE EQUIPMENT FORMS PART OF A BROADER $17 MILLION DOLLAR AVIATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME SUPPORTED BY THE CAF DEVELOPMENT BANK.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE AIRPORT, HADLEY BOURNE, SAID YESTERDAY THE RADAR SYSTEM WILL ALLOW CONTROLLERS TO BETTER TRACK AIRCRAFT AND MANAGE SPACING BETWEEN PLANES
THE PLANNED UPGRADE COMES DAYS AFTER OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT WERE DISRUPTED, WHEN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS STAGED A SICKOUT THAT TEMPORARILY CLOSED BARBADOS’ AIRSPACE FOR ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS.