The new airspace design has increased the flight handling capacity of Qatar’s airports significantly, enabling them to handle 100 flights per hour during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, said an official.
“Expecting about 1,600 air traffic movements per day during mega sporting event, Qatar Air Traffic Control Center activated on September 8 all plans and projects related to the World Cup, especially the new airspace design project,” said Mohammed Al Asmakh from Qatar Air Traffic Control Center.
Speaking to Qatar Radio recently, he said the new airspace design enables three flights to land side by side — two flights at Hamad International Airport and one at Doha International Airport.
“Moreover, three flights also can take off from two airports at the same time side by side. The new airspace design increased the flight handling capacity of both airports significantly,” said Al Asmakh.
He said Air Traffic Flow Management has also been set up to control the flow of air traffic to Qatar in coordination with neighbouring countries to avoid any delay in flights’ landing.
“The number of air traffic controllers has been increased to 160 people, who underwent intensive training programmes to improve their capability to work with a modernised system.” He said air traffic controllers have been assigned at several units — surveillance tower, weather control, Doha Flight Information Region (FIR), Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Doha International Airport (DIA).
“The most advanced equipment is installed to keep pace with air traffic movements, especially during the mega sporting event and in the future,” Al Asmakh added.
For example, he said, the number of radars has been increased significantly for better visibility. “Most advanced automation systems connecting the airports operating in the country to speed up and automate several processes which are essential to air traffic management.”
He said the air traffic control equipment has been modernised, with addition of more surveillance cameras to improve the visibility for controllers.
“Qatar Air Traffic Control Center is playing main role in developing the system of navigation. The center, in an area of 12,000 sqm, is equipped with most advanced technologies to modernise the system of navigation and air surveillance of Qatar.”
The official said that the center also has equipment such as simulators to serve the surveillance tower and Doha Flight Information Region (FIR).
“It also provides training to air traffic controllers to improve their performance, making them fully ready for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the future,” said Al Asmakh.
Source: Civil Aviation Authority – Qatar