Radar screens again go blank at IGI

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) In the second such incident in
a fortnight, some radar screens of the air traffic control
tower at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in
India's national capital Delhi went blank in quick succession,
sending the ATC officials in a tizzy.
According to airport sources, one or two radar
screens (consoles) -- which shows traffic in the airspace
controlled by Delhi tower and gives vital information like
aircraft speed, height and call-signs -- suddenly went blank
early Tuesday morning.
Unlike January 14 when a similar problem had arisen,
all the radar consoles did not blink and the two were revived
within a span of a few hours, said an official, who is
associated with the maintenance of the system.
However, officials were on their toes as there was a
top security alert due to the Republic Day celebrations which
was to begin in a few hours.
Since there were not many flights when the consoles
blinked, the ATC officials managed to control the situation
from getting out of control.
Presently, the ATC is using AutoTrack-II radar
automation system and it is being upgraded to the advanced
AutoTrack-III.
On the evening of January 14, all consoles went
blank during an exercise to upgrade the system which led to
disruption in movement of aircraft over the vast north Indian
stretch. PTI