AGARTALA, Jan 9 � Aiming to ensure better airspace management, the local Airport Authority of India (AAI) favours immediate introduction of radar system at Agartala Airport.
As of now, air traffic is being controlled by procedure which has certain limitations when it comes to air space management. The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) could not pass information regarding exact location (vertical and horizontal) of a particular flight or whether a particular plane is following the designated air route or not.
Besides, safety measures will also get a major boost if the system is introduced. �All these problems can be addressed easily if Radar system is installed at the Airport�, said S Maiti, Director of Agartala Airport here on Monday.
The Director said that a proposal had already been sent to AAI authority mentioning the necessity of having such a system. According to him, the air traffic has increased in Agartala Airport during the past few years with some foreign flights using the State�s air space. The Agartala Airport itself handles around 15 flights daily. It is also the second busiest Airport after Guwahati Airport.
�Keeping in mind the increasing air traffic, there is a need to have a Radar System to ensure better air space management at Agartala Airport�, he said. As of now, only Guwahati Airport has such a facility among the airports in the Northeastern States.
Apart from the Radar System, the airport has almost all facilities to handle domestic air traffic. The facilities include navigation aid, instrumental landing system, VOR improvised communication system and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME).
Maiti further said that a modernisation proposal was sent to the Aviation Ministry way back in 2006 but it could not take off due to scarcity of land. The modernisation plan which includes setting up of Terminal Building, Cargo Complex and Apron Taxiway needs around 246 acres of land. With state government failing to provide the required land, the AAI, Agartala will have to revise the plan reducing the area required for execution of the modernisation plan, he added.
