The director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Igor Rodríguez announced that the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) doppler radar will be fully installed in the next two months, as reported in Diario Libre. This radar will complete the weather surveillance system of the country. At present, there are radars in the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to the east and at the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata on the north coast. The Las Americas Airport radar will cover the south and southwest of the country.
Rodriguez said that the Las Americas radar will have a certified reach of 250 km and a solid state reach of 400 km.
Rodriguez said that a primary-secondary radar will also soon be installed in Santiago to enhance the coverage of the northern region.
The weather radars enable more precise weather forecasts for the country. Previously, forecasters had to rely on radar information supplied by the US National Hurricane Center and data from the radar in Puerto Rico.
Rodriguez made the statements during a visit to the San Isidro Air Base in San Isidro, eastern Santo Domingo, that is being modernized to serve as an alternate emergency airport.
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Diario Libre
30 July 2025