The Bahrain International Airport’s new highly-advanced air traffic control tower will become operational by the end of this year.
Construction on the BD2.5-million ($6.63 million) facility has already been completed and the equipment has been installed. However, before launching the facility, tests and trials have to be carried out, said a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Affairs.
The soft launching of the project is likely in a month’s time, he said. The 50-metre high tower, covering an area of 5,000 sq m, is one of the most advanced of its kind in the region, said the spokesman. Spread over 12 levels, the tower has a reception area and a VIP lounge as well as the main distribution room on the ground floor. Also on the ground floor is the Building Management System. The first two floors will house the air-conditioning plant room and the UPS room. The shaft of the tower is housed from the third to the ninth level, which also accommodates small offices, stores and rest rooms. There is another VIP room on the tenth floor. The air traffic control (ATC) equipment, the air traffic controller’s rest rooms and an air-conditioning plant room are located on the 11th floor. The main component of the tower, the visual control room (ATC room), is on the 12th floor.
The control room seats seven air traffic controllers, including a supervisor. There is a viewing balcony all around the control room for added visibility. The project is part of an overall development plan for the airport’s facilities prepared by the Civil Aviation Directorate at Transport Ministry and completed in co-ordination with the Works and Housing Ministry.