The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has installed a radar and a very high frequency (VHF) voice communication system at Porbandar to handle the increased number of flights overflying Mumbai ever since the Pakistan airspace closed down. The radar and VHF will allow city air traffic controllers (ATCOs) to directly contact overflying pilots, thus increasing safety of international flights and minimising risks and disturbance. Trial run for the radar began on Friday.
Overflying refers to an aircraft using an airspace to fly over a country to go to another one. Officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the radar was required as the number of flights overflying Mumbai has doubled since the closure of Pakistan airspace, overburdening ATCOs.
