Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
The Afghanistan Government and national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines have concluded a series of wide ranging agreements with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to overhaul local air traffic communications as well as to improve aircraft and airport safety.
Under an $8 million deal concluded with IATA, Afghanistan's Civil Aviation and Tourism Authority has agreed a two-phase programme to upgrade the local flight information region's (FIR) communications network and five airports. "The agreements are designed to attract traffic back to the FIR and eliminate any doubts about airspace safety," says IATA project manager Gary Dennison.
The initial phase, worth some $2 million, will involve the installation of a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) network to provide VHF remote-controlled communications between the Kabul FIR and overflying traffic. The system, which uses the Asiasat 2 satellite, will provide complete VHF voice and date coverage of the country.
Kabul's new VSAT network will include remote sites at Mazar-I-Sharif, Jalalabad, Herat and Khandahar, as well as linking with neighbouring air traffic service centres in Iran, Pakistan, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The programme, which is being funded with overflight fees, is due for completion by the year end.
IATA, in addition, is assisting to update and reproduce the Aeronautical Information Publication of Afghanistan and Jeppeson maps with the new procedures. The agreement also includes the provision of new X-ray machines and other security equipment at Kabul and Khandahar airports.
A second, $6 million, phase - scheduled to start in 1999 - will include further expansion of the VSAT network and airport infrastructural improvements. New runway and approach lighting, along with precision approach and pass indicator, will be installed at Kabul,Mazar, Jalalabad, Herat and Khandahar airports.
Ariana has also agreed with IATA to replace the Omega navigation system on its three Boeing 727-100/200s with the global positioning system and to develop non-precision approach procedures for the country's five main airports. Ariana, which now only operates internationally to Amritsar and Dubai, has said it will also fit the aircraft with a traffic alert and collision avoidance system.
The Kabul FIR now relies mainly on HF communications, which are proving unreliable. Traffic through the FIR has dwindled to 40-50 aircraft a day, down from more than 100, because of concerns over safety. Aside from VSAT, the local authorities hope to boost traffic by agreeing to open two new air routes, V888 and V838, running across the country between Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
Source: Flight International
