Cayman is to get a CI$9.8m modern air traffic control system, including a new control centre, by the end of 2027.
The Cayman Islands Airport Authority said the contract would ensure a service that boosted “flight safety, efficiency and coordination” in the country’s airspace and help to improve air traffic flow across the region.
Albert Anderson, CEO of the Airport Authority said, “This is a major step forward for aviation in the Cayman Islands.
“The modernisation of our air traffic control infrastructure is part of our long-term vision to strengthen safety, improve efficiency and keep pace with global aviation standards as passenger volumes continue to grow.”
Air traffic to grow
Cayman’s air traffic is expected to grow by 25% over the next decade and the new system will be able to keep pace with development in the sector.
The multi-year contract with French-based global technology company Thales will include radar-based air traffic control for Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport and Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac.
The modernisation programme will include “Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast” tracking and upgraded communications systems, which will give air traffic controllers real-time aircraft visibility and more efficient flight-path management.
The system is said to be compatible with those in use elsewhere in the Caribbean, which will improve cross-border coordination, cut “safety risks associated with fragmented airspace management” and allow smoother traffic flow across the region.
Training in Cayman
The project will be managed by Thales’ air traffic management projects and services centre in Mexico, which will oversee design, installation and the operational start-up alongside the Airport Authority and Cayman air traffic management staff.
Training on the new system for air traffic controllers, communications, navigation and surveillance engineers, and aeronautical information management team will be carried out in Cayman.
Youzec Kurp, Thales’ vice-president for airspace mobility solutions, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Cayman Islands Airport Authority as a new partner and to embark on this exciting air traffic management journey together.
“This selection not only reflects the trust and confidence they have placed in Thales, but also underscores our commitment to delivering innovative, cybersecure and tailored solutions from our Air Traffic Management Projects and Services Centre that bring Cayman Islands air navigation capabilities to the next level, ensuring safety and excellence for the years to come.
“We look forward to building a strong, long-lasting relationship that drives mutual growth and success.”
The deal is in line with the Cayman Islands Airport Authority’s Airports Master Plan 2041, designed to ensure services fit to meet future air traffic, tourism and economic growth projections.
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