Air Traffic Control runs with 36 years old radar in Shahjalal

The aircraft take off, landing and air way control works are running with 36 years old defective radar and manual Air Traffic Control (ATC) system in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The capability has not been enhanced after several phase renovation works. Experts have suggested for purchasing new radar to avert any risk and major accident.

The aviation sectors of the world have moved up after the US-Bangla aircraft crash in Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport on March 12. The mismanagement of the airport and different technological limitations for safe aircraft landing came under discussion.

After the incident the question has arisen how much modern is the aviation management of Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport. There is also question of how much safe is air traffic control with 36 years old radar.

The primary radar was set up with French grants in 1984 and in 1986 the secondary radar with 10 years life expectancy was set up. After expiration of the radar consisting with the primary and secondary radar the authority has several times performed renovation work spending large amount of money in the last several years.

Former Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority Air Commodore Iqbal Hossain (rtd) said, the capacity of this radar has reduced and it was repaired several times.

He underscored the need for replacing the radar with new one to avert accident and increase the capability of air traffic control.

Civil Aviation Authority took a project to purchase modern radar in 2005 but that was not implemented due to different complexities.

Director of Civil Aviation Wing Commander Chowdhury Ziaul Kabir said, the existing radar is upgraded and now it runs 24 hours. An all out ATM system is running at the moment.

Experts think that the way development is going on in the road, rail and water ways that kind of development is not going on in the aviation sector.

Meanwhile, accountability cannot be ensured by keeping Civil Aviation Authority as the controlling organization as well as service provider. International Civil Aviation Organization-ICAO has also emphasized on splitting the institution. But the authority is not moving with much pace. The organization said that a project could be enacted within three months.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh for long period is performing role for providing security for the airports, from passenger service to all kinds of services including enforcing laws. But in different countries including India the controlling authority performs its duty as the supervisor of service providing and law enforcing activities. But in our country the authority is proving service as well as controlling. For this reason accountability regarding service is not being ensured.

But before 1986 there were two organizations for two types of work. After experiencing 33 years the work is underway to spit the organization under recommendation from ICAO.

AH