Work on the Dubai World Central International Airport’s (JXB) air traffic control (ATC) tower is moving ahead of schedule, a spokesman said.

“Progress is ahead of schedule with 60 per cent of the 92-metre tall ATC tower complete,” said Abdulla Al Falasi, marketing and corporate communications director of Dubai World Central, the 140 sq km urban aviation community in Dubai’s Jebel Ali district.

The structure, Middle East’s tallest free standing ATC, will be capable of handling the latest in avionics equipment and state-of-the-art meteorological and radar systems.

The new airport will get ready for operations next year.

Arabtec/Max Bogl JV, a UAE-German joint venture which is building the tower at an estimated $39.1 million, expects construction to be complete in February 2008, well in time for final air traffic control solutions to be in place. –TradeArabia News Service