Manston Airport's multi-million pound radar build begins
Work has begun on building a multi-million pound radar system at Manston Airport.
The new primary and secondary radar system will play a large part of the freight and passenger airport's future and is designed to serve the projected growth of the site during the next 15 to 20 years.
The state-of-the-art devices have been funded by airport owners Infratil and offshore wind farm operators.
Manston chief executive Charles Buchanan said: "This major investment demonstrates our owner's commitment to the future of Manston Airport and ensures the continued safe operation of the airport alongside the development of the offshore wind farms.
"Through this investment the airport is able to ensure the continued safe movement of planes in and out of the airport and the operation of the two nationally important wind farms by London Array and Vattenfall, which will deliver 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough electricity for approximately one million households."
The new radar system is one part of a suite of measures which will help the airport's air traffic controllers deal with the radar ‘clutter' caused by the rotating wind turbines, which can look the same as a moving aircraft on a radar display.
Thanet North MP Roger Gale said: "I'm delighted to see work started on this radar investment which will be at the heart of Manston's safe international operation and its potential for growth. We are confident that the airport has a vital part to play in the future economic prosperity of Thanet and also support the operation of the area's wind farm industry."
Thales will replace the existing radar and air traffic display system at the airport, which should be commissioned by the end of the year.Work has begun on building a multi-million pound radar system at Manston Airport.
The new primary and secondary radar system will play a large part of the freight and passenger airport's future and is designed to serve the projected growth of the site during the next 15 to 20 years.
The state-of-the-art devices have been funded by airport owners Infratil and offshore wind farm operators.
Manston chief executive Charles Buchanan said: "This major investment demonstrates our owner's commitment to the future of Manston Airport and ensures the continued safe operation of the airport alongside the development of the offshore wind farms.
"Through this investment the airport is able to ensure the continued safe movement of planes in and out of the airport and the operation of the two nationally important wind farms by London Array and Vattenfall, which will deliver 1.3 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough electricity for approximately one million households."
The new radar system is one part of a suite of measures which will help the airport's air traffic controllers deal with the radar ‘clutter' caused by the rotating wind turbines, which can look the same as a moving aircraft on a radar display.
Thanet North MP Roger Gale said: "I'm delighted to see work started on this radar investment which will be at the heart of Manston's safe international operation and its potential for growth. We are confident that the airport has a vital part to play in the future economic prosperity of Thanet and also support the operation of the area's wind farm industry."
Thales will replace the existing radar and air traffic display system at the airport, which should be commissioned by the end of the year.Source: BusinessforKent.co.uk
