Inverness Airport has paved the way for considerable growth in the future with the introduction of a comprehensive radar service.
For the very first time, Inverness Airport will provide its own radar service to aircraft in the area, using data supplied by RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss.
The airport’s own radar head will become operational in autumn 2008, when Inverness will be completely self-sufficient in terms of local radar provision.
It is a project that has been undertaken in response to rising passenger demand at the airport. There has been a staggering 100 per cent increase in total passenger numbers in the last seven years alone and Inverness expects to handle in excess of 700,000 people this year.
James Walton, Inverness airport manager, commented: “Having our own radar controllers handling aircraft movements is a major step forward for us and reflects the increases in traffic at the airport since 1999.
“The RAF controllers have provided us with an excellent service over the years and we thank them for their work with us since 1999. The RAF’s ongoing support in providing radar data is also very important to us until our own radar is installed next year.”
Inverness Airport is operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), which is responsible for a total of ten airports in the north and west of Scotland.
