Dubai's new air traffic control centre at Al Maktoum International Airport is undergoing certification tests for its planned operational start next year.
The facility will guide aircraft approaching or departing Dubai International, Al Maktoum International - also known as Dubai World Central - Sharjah International Airport and Minhad air base below the UAE's transition altitude of 13,000ft. Tower operations at the Dubai International and Al Maktoum International hubs will also be supported.
The area control centre has been equipped by Raytheon with its AutoTrac III air traffic management system. Multi-radar tracking capability, forward-looking computation of aircraft flight information, online data exchange and electronic flight strips are among the system features.
Site acceptance tests with the operator, Dubai Air Navigation Services, have been completed with certification tests with the regulator being next in line, said Steve DuMont, managing director of the US manufacturer's international ATM division.
He said that the new system will allow significant reductions in separation distances between aircraft. Given the limited airspace of the UAE, this should create much-needed capacity for Dubai International airport, which is set to surpass London Heathrow as the world's busiest international hub around 2014, he added.
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Source: Flight Daily News
