Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) is set to introduce a new air traffic safety system at Bahrain International Airport (BIA).

It has signed a contract with leading air transport communication and information technology solutions specialists SITA during the inaugural Bahrain International Air Show.

The deal will see SITA deliver air and ground data link systems to the airport, aimed at enhancing air traffic safety in the airspace under its control.

The Aircom data link system will be the first to come on board at BIA and will enable text based departure clearances to be issued by BIA Air Traffic Control (ATC) to departing aircraft.

The service, which minimises the risk of any misunderstanding in ATC operations that could occur with today's voice-delivered departure clearances, is being introduced in response to International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations to enhance ATC operations at all airports around the world.

The second SITA system to be delivered, known as Fans 1/A, will enable en-route air traffic controllers to exchange text based communications with pilots operating aircraft in Bahrain's upper airspace.

It will also see air traffic controllers being able to contact the aircraft to downlink its position information on a periodic basis via SITA's Aircom satellite data link service as a means to achieve airspace surveillance in areas beyond radar coverage.-TradeArabia News Service