Manston Awards New Radar Contract
KENT'S Manston Airport has awarded the contract for the replacement of its radar.
The multi-million pound contract has been awarded to Thales, a world leader in aerospace technology, for the replacement of the existing radar and air traffic display system at the airport.
Manston’s Chief Executive Charles Buchanan commented: “This major investment demonstrates our owners commitment to the future of Manston Airport and ensures the continued operation of the airport alongside the development of the offshore wind farms.”
The new radar is needed at Manston because of the Thanet Offshore and the London Array wind farms in the Thames Estuary which between them will have over four hundred giant turbines. The wind farm developers have contributed towards the cost of the project as part of the mitigation needed to allow the airport to continue to operate efficiently.
Charles Buchanan explained: “Rotating wind turbine blades can cause radar “clutter” which can look similar to the radar picture from a moving aircraft. Manston’s new state-of-the-art radar system, together with a mandatory transponder zone over the wind farms, will allow aircraft to continue to fly safely and efficiently over the wind farms under an air traffic control service.
Mr Buchanan added: “As the growth of wind energy increases, it’s vital that the nationally-important industries of aviation and renewables develop together to support the UK’s recovering economy."