Ambassador of France Jean-Claude Moyret, designer Oscar de la Renta, President Leonel Fernandez, president of the Punta Cana Group Frank Rainieri, Public Works Minister Freddy Perez, Civil Aviation Board director Norge Botello, among others, attended the inaugural of the US$6.9 million air traffic management system at the Punta Cana International Airport last week. The new Thales radar system will enable them to monitor all authorized and non-authorized flights over national territory. It will be most useful, though, in assisting landings at the Punta Cana International Airport. Frank Rainieri explained that the new system ensures that airplanes can land safely on the minute at the airport. This also translates into considerable savings for the airlines flying into the Punta Cana airport.
The system comprises a radar station equipped with a STAR 2000 S-band solid-state approach primary radar co-mounted with a monopulse secondary surveillance radar RSM 970 S (Mode S capability) and an air traffic control center. The Punta Cana international airport caters to over 250 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic during the busy winter tourist season. Thus the new ATM system reinforces the Punta Cana?s air traffic security while further enhancing the country?s tourist industry.
A new RD$25 million two-floor building for the specialized airport security corps was also officially inaugurated. It has capacity to lodge 126 military.