The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration yesterday broke ground on a $15m aviation project, which officials said is expected to revolutionise the industry.

According to Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, a recent contract signing with INDRA, the leading multi-national consultant and technology company in Spain and Latin America, will see a radar valued at $11.8m installed at the airport.

The contract will also facilitate repairs to an existing radar, which was purchased by the former Ingraham administration, but later officials reported that the radar was not functioning, Mrs Hanna-Martin said at the time, the radar cost taxpayers around $11m. A 3D tower simulator also will be constructed for the training of Bahamian staff.

Next week, 12 large containers will be sent from Spain to deliver the equipment, radars, automation and simulators required to complete prepping in the Bahamas.

“We are moving from the 20th century to the 21st century,” the Minister said, “and at the same time we are meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards which makes us a respectable member state in aviation. But we want to distinguish ourselves in the region and maybe the world.

“We have purchased a collocated primary surveillance S band radar and a mono pulse secondary surveillance radar system which is mode S capable.

“It’s a significant investment by the Bahamian people. The radar was chosen after an international competitive bidding process. It went out to the world and we had ICAO consultants. That’s different than what we did before. This time we decided that we would use ICAO consultants to help us understand what we are doing. When you are spending $11m in a country like ours you have to be very careful.”

INDRA Project Manager Ignacio Aguas told those gathered that the ground-breaking represented two years of persistent hard work. He said the company prides itself on offering cutting edge services.

“We have offices in 45 countries, employ more than 42,000 professionals to service our customers in 140 countries where INDRA has been involved in the development of more than 3,000 air traffic control facilities.

“Two years ago this project was launched commencing with the hiring requirements. Following the signing of a contract with INDRA in May of 2013 there was a long designing phase. The system design was agreed in September and INDRA began the manufacture of equipment and the formulation of software. In October, staff of the Civil Aviation Department began travelling to Spain to start their training.”

Also in attendance were Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, State Transport and Aviation Minister Hope Strachan, Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe and Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company CEO Vernice Walkine.