The three-man panel conducting an investigation into the December failure of the radar system at the Nassau International Airport is reportedly “wrapping up” its inquiry.
And although panel members are keeping their findings close to their chest, a Guardian source said that the age of the radar system might have been a factor in the outage, which occurred during the height of the busy holiday season.
The radar developed technical difficulties during the night of December 23, subsequently resulting in the entire system having to be shut down. Normal operation was restored around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27.
“The system is old, and there is speculation that may have played a role in the chaotic situation. It’s more than 20-years-old,” the source said.
According to another source, however, the problem was traced to the “rotary joint”, a part of the radar that was replaced in more recent times.
The rotary joint enables the operation of both the “primary” radar and the more technologically advanced “secondary” radar, data from which is also used by Miami Air Traffic Controllers. Resultant air traffic delays were further exacerbated by airlines not being able to obtain fuel supplies on a timely basis.
The Guardian attempted to contact Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin for an update on the status of the inquiry but she could not be reached. During the week the minister was reported to be in Long Island in connection with a new airport to replace the closed Stella Maris airstrip,
In January, a three-man panel comprising former Director General of Tourism, Baltron Bethel. He is being assisted by Dr Jack Fernsides, a consultant to the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, who formerly served in a senior capacity in the US Department of Transportation, and former Air Traffic Controller, top civil aviation administrator and Bahamas Government consultant.
The terms of reference of the inquiry will include the maintenance of the radar, the response time to the failure, and whether decisions made to address the situation were appropriate and correct.
“The inquiry is intended to enable my ministry to objectively and thoroughly evaluate the circumstances and responses to the failure, to ensure accountability, review protocols and to take any necessary steps to correct any shortcomings where they might have occurred,” Minister Hanna Martin disclosed.
According to a press release, “On Friday, Dec. 23 at approximately 7 pm the ASR 8 Radar, which regulates air traffic control services at NIA, encountered some problems forcing Bahamian air traffic controllers to revert to non-radar procedures, commonly referred to in the industry as ‘procedural control.'”
Unfortunately, the radar failure occurred at one of the busiest times of the year resulting in long delays and back-ups in international and domestic air traffic both scheduled and unscheduled.
Announcing the appointment of the fact-finding committee after the radar was restored, the minister noted also that,
“The inquiry has not been called to point fingers at anyone, but to review a situation, which caught officials off-guard, and in the future to minimise the effects of such a failure.”
According to the sources, the panel’s findings should be made available within the next three weeks.
It is understood that interviews have been held with senior Civil Aviation Department officials, on-duty air traffic controllers and technicians, and airline station managers.
By: KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, The Nassau Guardian
