Flight Test of New Radar Conducted in Bhatte Danda

Last Saturday, The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) conducted the flight inspection of the Mode S Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) system reports, The Kathmandu Post. This system, installed in Bhatte Danda of Lalitpur, is the latest technology in Nepal’s air traffic control.

The MSSR system was a Rs. 906 Million project was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It was funded as a part of the broader Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) modernization project.

The project was completed in July 2016 after four years of work and it was handed over by JICA to CAAN in September of this year.

CAAN and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct the flight inspection of the radar.

According to CAAN Spokesperson Birendra Prasad Shrestha, a special aircraft was brought from Ireland to conduct the test. The system was tested at an altitude up to 43,000 feet on all routes. The testing began on Saturday and took two days to complete.

He also informed that the final report of the test will be available after a month after which commercial operation of the radar will begin.

MSSR system

The MSSR system is the latest technology in Nepal’s air traffic control. In this system, after the radar is switched on, air traffic controllers (ATC) will be able to see the precise position, speed, and altitude of every aircraft in range. The system can monitor flight movements over an area of 200 nautical miles or more while the current system at TIA monitors an area of 60 nautical miles.

Shrestha said that the system will modernize our air traffic management system and enhance safety.