System upgrade, flaws downplayed

8216;8216;Tracking is not reliable on Apron area around parking bays for any target,8217;8217; is how Air Traffic Control summed up the test conducted with the help of a Dornier aircraft and two jeeps.

The report, prepared on December 20, observed that the aircraft 8216;8216;dropped8217;8217; off the radar screen every few seconds, particularly where the parking bays are located. Besides, the jeep is 8216;8216;often missed8217;8217; on the screen for few seconds while turning, it said.

Some of the observations:

8226; 8216;8216;Spurious tracks fake signals8217;8217; moving towards and across runways

8226; 8216;8216;Track signal8217;8217; of a Boeing 767 speeding for take-off at 160 knots 8216;8216;dropped8217;8217; and reappeared just as it took off.

8226; A Boeing 737 simply vanished as it crossed the second runway while taxiing.

The Sunday Express December 25 had revealed that no air traffic controller or maintenance personnel has been trained on the radar, bought from US-based Sensis Corporation. Its installation and integration with existing systems is still not complete.