PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Improving African ATC?
View Single Post
Old 29th December 2001 | 01:08
  #4 (permalink)  
ATC Watcher
Pegase Driver
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 1997
: ATCO
Posts: 4,450
Likes: 1,164
From: Europe
Unhappy

Another typical stupidity fed by Export banks offering huge loans to inflated contracts, with everybody apparently winning : the manufacturers who get rid of expensive equipment (with often no maintenance contracts and no spares )the local civils cervants who can show off and become important, the local politicians at the receiving end that receive money "commissions" and the politicians at the manufacturing end boosting "jobs created ".

We've see that in so many countries . They buy BMWs with all options where a Toyota would be perfect and more suited to the terrain.
For civil ATC today,in Africa, a couple of single monopulse SSR radars , a small air conditionned room with 5 or 6 sectors, and well trained and well paid staff ( controllers and technicians to maintain the stuff )will be sufficient. All off the shelf with proven 10-years old technology and the least gadgets possible. The costs will be closer to 5 Millions USD that to 30....But with this you do not impress people....but it will work for 20 years..
ATC Watcher is online now