Nearly 45 per cent of the work has been completed on the new air traffic control (ATC) centre at the Bahrain International Airport, said Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.  

The upcoming ATC, which covers an area of about 3,120 sq m, is four times the area of existing centre.

Latest technologies will be installed at the new air traffic control center to keep pace with the rapid growth of air traffic, said Mohammed, while speaking to Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

"The new control centre will be equipped with latest dual aerial surveillance workstations and six monitoring workstations to cope with the steady growth of air traffic over the coming years," he stated.

"The new ATC centre project is part of the ministry’s strategic plan to develop aviation services in the Kingdom of Bahrain and enhance safety and efficiency to ensure the provision of air navigation services of the highest levels in accordance with the standards and requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," noted Mohammed.

"It will enhance the status and reputation of the kingdom in the field of air navigation," he added.

According to Mohammed, the ministry had recently issued a tender for the development of air traffic management systems at the new centre.

"As per the ministry’s plan, the current ATC will be maintained as an alternative centre for use in case of emergency and as an air traffic control simulation centre to quality and train air traffic controllers to acquire the necessary skills and practical experience of air traffic management in the kingdom," he stated.

"The new air control centre building is expected to be operational in the second half of 2021," he added.