US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced the installation of a brand-new Surface Movement Radar (SMR) at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
The radar replacement forms part of the Trump Administration’s plans to modernise America’s air traffic control system.
With installation complete; DCA has now become the fifth airport to receive a Surface Movement Radar Model 4 (SMR-4), following an installation at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) last week.
The new technology aims to help controllers to prevent incursions by allowing them to better track both aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways regardless of weather and visibility conditions.
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said:In just 18 months, we have delivered billions of dollars to air traffic control centres across the country–including 30.5 million USD right here at Washington Reagan.
This new radar is our latest reinforcement tool to equip our controllers as they safeguard our air travel.
In total, 30.5 million USD is planned to be invested into DCA as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act over the course of the next three years in order to deliver safety and modernisation upgrades. In addition to the SMR-4, DCA has thus far replaced 67% of its copper writing with high-speed fibre to enhance communication, which has allowed for the transition from paper to electronic flight strips, and installed new radios to improve communication between controllers and pilots.
By 2029, DCA will also install new Electronic Information Display Systems to improve situational awareness for controllers, as well as new IP voice switches to help controllers communicate with pilots and other air traffic facilities more efficiently.
