Ministry of Transportation Undertakes Essential Upgrades for Air Traffic Control

As part of the Ministry of Transportation’s (MOT) strategy to develop the Kingdom’s air navigational services, MOT Civil Aviation Affairs’ Air Navigation Directorate has implemented a new voice and data recording system, one of numerous projects to upgrade facilities and enhance air traffic control safety.

The new system employs state-of-the-art technology of voice and radar data recording used at the Air Traffic Services and Standards to assist in daily tasks and decision making processes and incident investigation. It will also provide tools for training on improving standards and quality of services.

The Aeronautical Automatic Message Switching System has also been upgraded recently in keeping with the latest generation solutions. This system is integrated with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Aeronautical communications fixed network, allowing the distribution of Aeronautical messages across the network. This system upgrade will ensure non-interruption of the distribution of Aeronautical messages after processing in the event of a major failure of the main system, marking a significant enhancements of safety in air traffic control operations.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s role in air navigation is internationally recognized, as the Bahrain Centre for Aviation Communications is a key player in transmitting Aeronautical messages between the Middle East, South-East Asia and Europe.

MOT CAA Air Navigation Directorate is undertaking numerous projects in order to fulfill its international role in the aviation industry. These projects include the creation of a new automatic system to optimize the utilization of manpower at the Air Traffic Control Centre. The system specifies the number of air controllers required for each shift based on the requirements of air sectors within Bahrain’s Flight Information Region.

Additionally, the system can be used to identify any potential shortages in the number of air controllers due to vacations or attendance of training courses, thereby allowing management to organize shifts. A call-out system has also been developed which will further enhance the use of resources at the Air Traffic Control Centre.

Simultaneously, work has also started on a project for the installation of a new automatic aviation broadcast system to all aircraft transiting the Bahrain Flight Information Region, as well as departing and arriving aircrafts from and to Bahrain International Airport. This broadcast system will allow aircraft crew to automatically obtain in significant advance information about weather and other essential changes in Bahrain International Airport, which may affect the safety of air traffic. This will be transmitted through audio broadcasts on voice frequency and data via data link network. It will contribute to supporting the safety of air traffic in Bahrain Flight Information Region and Bahrain International Airport.

Praising the efforts of his team, MOT CAA Air Navigation Director, Mr. Ali Ahmed, pointed out that the Air Navigation Directorate is currently working on vital projects, all of which will contribute to enhancing the role and leading position of the Kingdom in air navigation both regionally and internationally.

"We are working to ensure that the Kingdom of Bahrain will be in a position to continue providing the highest quality services to all users, with all upgrades and new systems being developed in line with ICAO standards and Recommended Practices requirements," he concluded.