Middle East airports, upgrading to meet stringent international communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) requirements and meet growing traffic demand, will be looking to identify and source the latest air traffic and airport management systems at this year's Dubai air show.
Mansoor Taher, Dubai International's air traffic services general manager, says the upgrades are in line with a global CNS/ATM implementation plan laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Taher says his department and counterparts throughout the Middle East and Asia will be at Dubai 2003 to scrutinise the latest CNS/ATM systems and equipment.
"We would like to see more participation from companies providing airport systems and equipment," says Taher. "We visit air shows around the world and too often not enough focus is given to this sector but in the Middle East, the opportunities for providers of air traffic management systems are immense."
Taher says some of that demand follows the ICAO's Future Air Navigation Systems Committee observation that satellite technology is the only viable solution to overcome the limitations of current systems and meet future needs on a cost-effective global basis.
"All airports are now looking for these systems and new technologies, including Dubai. Although in Dubai we are well ahead of the game, we still need to automate our systems totally to handle projected traffic growth."
Dubai DCA projections say passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport will rise from 16 million last year, to 40 million by 2010 and 70 million by 2016.
"This means we will be supporting an operation the size of London Heathrow," says Taher. "So there will be phased introduction of new systems and technology to meet this growth."
Taher says passenger management systems would also be in demand in growth plans for Dubai International, which include a new Terminal 3 exclusively for Emirates, expansion of its existing Terminal 2, and a second and third concourse.
Surveillance
"From the air traffic side, we are going through the first phase of upgrading ATS systems. Currently an advanced surface movement guidance and control system, with three radar heads, is being installed and very soon tendering will begin for one primary and one secondary surveillance radar to replace the present systems," says Taher.
"Dubai is the first airport in the Middle East to have a published GPS approach procedure for landing and we have plans to install a Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) for precision approach to CAT 1.
"At the same time, we are also planning for the latest in technology, new airport systems for gate management and the entire passenger management arena. Airport systems in general are being planned for Dubai," says Taher.
Taher says Dubai is also witnessing increasing demand from the leisure aviation sector and predicts exhibitors serving this segment will receive strong support at Dubai 2003.
"There is demand for gliders, paramotors and hot air balloons as Dubai's tourism infrastructure grows. Dubai is also now a venue for major international events and even advertising is now taking to the skies over the emirate."
Source: Flight Daily News
