asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is satisfied that the radar equipment provided at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports is up to international standards and if there are any plans for installing more long-range equipment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Airport Radar Equipment.
51.
There are no specific International Civil Aviation Organisation standards for radar equipment at international airports. Such equipment is installed to meet the traffic pattern and density involved at the particular airport concerned. I am satisfied that the radar equipment at present installed at the three State airports compares favourably with similar equipment used at similar airports in other countries but the need for expansion and improvement to meet the growth in traffic and to keep abreast of developments is kept under constant review.
It is planned to have an extended range surveillance radar of 100 nautical miles coverage installed at Dublin Airport by autumn 1970. An interim system is at present installed there. The installation of a medium range surveillance radar of 75 nautical miles coverage at Shannon Airport is scheduled for June. 1970. A special type of radar, capable of meeting the combined requirements of either a precision approach radar of limited range or a short range surveillance radar of 40 nautical miles coverage, on a switchable basis, is expected to be operational at Cork in February, 1970.