Test Runs For Raytheon Atc Systems Under Way

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has kicked off the 72-hour test run of the new Raytheon air traffic control system amidst serious doubts raised by the air traffic controllers (ATCs) over its workability.

An official at the aerodrome services at Delhi said over 24 hours of the system testing had been completed. A full report will be submitted to the AAI after the completion of 72 hours, based on which it will decide the fate of the system.

A source said problems were being faced with the aerodrome surface detection equipment and radar system. The rest of the system, he said, was functioning adequately including the freezing of the situation data display.

 

He added that payment for the radar will not be made if it continued to malfunction.

The surface detection equipment problems, it was argued, can be overcome through adoption of procedural control. However, if the radar picture freezes in the situation data display, as has been happening, there is no other resort, explained an official.

ATCs, who have to run the new system, expressed several reservations on shifting over to the new system.

They said problems with situation data display were still persisting. Further, they said they have not been given adequate training on the system. An ATC said, around 23-24 ATCs were familiarised with the system for 20-odd days by Raytheon in Boston some months ago. No formal intensive training has yet been imparted by the AAI. He also argued that the AAI has not chalked out a transition programme for shifting to the new system.

AAI sources said there was a plan to license around 16 radar controllers after training them on the new secondary radar system (the old system works with a primary radar).

ATCs said the AAI had not chalked out any firm transition plan, which could be a security risk.

To ensure a smooth transition, the old and the new system have to run side by side. However, there are not enough ATCs to run the two systems simultaneously.

At present, there are 4 shifts and each shift has 20 people, thus deploying all the 80 ATCs at Palam. An additional 80 trained persons are required, an ATC said.

Another problem is that the new system site is 11-12 km away from the present system, which could lead to problems in case of a failure of the new system.

Referring to a system failure that occurred in Oman (on a system supplied by Raytheon), ATCs argue that the Oman authorities were able to revert to the old system immediately as they were both located in the same building.