CNS-ATM Radar fully operational from October, T3 from December : CAAB

Dhaka : The country's aviation industry is ready to welcome massive developments this year as the state-of-the-art CNS-ATM Radar System of France's Thales will be fully operational from October and the much anticipated ultramodern Third Terminal of Dhaka Airport from December.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan said this while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor at his office in the capital recently.

The new radar system is already ready and operational; however, it is currently pending International Civil Aviation Organization's approval. Once received by October, the new radar system will be fully launched bringing the entire country's airspace under surveillance, informed CAAB Chairman.

Furthermore, the new radar system will allow the country to accommodate more air traffic, he added.

Thanks to the cutting-edge radar, the entire air navigation system of the country will be fully automated. Integration of the ground-based radars to the Thales system in complete.

Currently, CAAB is shifting air traffic operations from its old control tower to the new one. Once complete, air traffic operations will be conducted from both the towers.

On the other hand, the much-awaited ultramodern Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital will open its doors to passengers by December this year.

About 99.8 percent of the works are complete, claimed CAAB Chairman, adding, only VVIP Terminal works remain and are currently underway.

Granites are due to come from Spain which will be placed inside the Third Terminal. By June-July, it will be complete, according to CAAB Chairman.

Also, negotiations with a Japanese Consortium are underway who will be operating the Third Terminal. Once done, the consortium will employ manpower and train them.

16 custom scanning machines are currently being set-up. Moreover, test and trial of all the airport's systems are currently underway, informed CAAB Chairman. Once done, the equipment will be handed over to the Japanese Consortium. Afterwards, they might bring in more equipment if required, he noted.

All these are expected to complete by December before CAAB opens Third Terminal for passengers in full capacity, concluded the Chairman.