Myanmar upgrades air traffic control

YANGON Myanmar aviation authorities plans to switch the country air traffic system to a space-based surveillance model to keep track of the rising number of foreign and domestic aircraft flying through its air space.

The country’s Department of Civil Aviation  signed, an agreement, last week, with the US -based Aireon LCC to develop an air traffic system using satellites.

Myanmar Times quoted DCA’s Air Navigation Safety director, U Soe Paing, saying safety was a top priority that led to the decision to consider the proposal for a satellite system.  It should be up and running by 2018.

“We have many challenges installing ground-based surveillance solutions, due to the remote and diverse terrain in our country.”

Satellite-based system brings real-time aircraft surveillance to remote land areas or over water – where traditional systems would be limited or impractical.

The satellite system will also allow real-time monitoring, helping civil aviation authorities to  accurately track aircraft and respond to emergencies, the report said.

Aireon already has similar agreements with civil aviation authorities in Singapore and India, the firm said.

The firm and its partners are still in the process of deploying satellites. The last of these satellites is expected to be in place by the end of 2017, allowing Aireon to have its surveillance system in place and operational the following year, the report said.

The firm is developing the new system in partnership with air navigation service providers in other countries including Canada, Italy, Ireland and Denmark.