Uruguay Airports and Ministry of Defense inaugurate new radar at Durazno Airport

Within the framework of the development of the National System of International Airports, Aeropuertos Uruguay installed and put into operation at the Durazno Airport a radar system with the latest technology that guarantees coverage of all national airspace.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Minister of National Defense, Javier García; the general secretary of the Municipality of Durazno, José Domingo Rielli; and authorities of Uruguay Airports.

The new instrument, from the Spanish brand INDRA, is a mode S monopulse secondary radar (ADSB), which from the Durazno International Airport, Santa Bernardina, will cover the entire country. It has technology prepared to detect aircraft within a radius of 250 nautical miles.

During the installation and programming stage, all personnel who will work with this state-of-the-art instrument, as well as air traffic controllers, were trained in Spain, and tests were carried out on site.

In a joint effort with the National Directorate of Civil Aviation and Aeronautical Infrastructure, the new radar, which is already in operation, was integrated into the Uruguayan Radar Control Center, which integrates data from radars in Uruguay.

“Our commitment to promote and improve the aeronautical infrastructure of our country also implies incorporating equipment with advanced and modern technology. That is why we are proud to contribute with the incorporation of a new radar that will improve air navigation and guarantee coverage of all national airspace”, said Diego Arrosa, CEO of Aeropuertos Uruguay .

For his part, Minister García said that the incorporation of radar “is vital and is part of the infrastructure revolution that is taking place throughout the country. In this case it is a million dollar investment. It is 4 million dollars, between the radar and the ILS system, which is a system that facilitates landing, which will be installed in a few days”.

He added that this milestone constitutes “a very important modernization. They are the same radars that are installed in Germany, it is the latest technology. It constitutes a process of modernization, development and decentralization because it is the possibility that this National System of International Airports enables investment and with it, work in the localities and in the departments”.

Meanwhile, Rielli thanked Aeropuertos Uruguay for having chosen Durazno to integrate the National Airport System. “For the Durazno department, this is something that will generate development and connectivity. The heart of the country beats strong when things like this happen and it really fills us with joy and satisfaction to be inaugurating so much technology at the service of connectivity. Area connectivity is going to be at the service of Uruguayans and Durazno is going to be one of the centers where all this technology can be developed”, he stated.

During the event, the company also announced the installation of a new category I ILS instrument approach system for instrument approaches at the head of runway 21 north. It is the same model from the renowned Thales company that is located at the Carrasco International Airport. The system, as indicated, will be operational during the month of August, as soon as the required tests are completed.

In addition, the company shared that the equipment of the Durazno Control Tower was renewed with state-of-the-art communication equipment from the company Rohde & Schwarz, which enhances the traffic control service by facilitating broad communications coverage.

State-of-the-art equipment provides a high degree of reliability and range in receiving and issuing communications, as well as in data storage. Its design, in turn, facilitates the layout of the controller positions, allowing them to carry out their functions safely, dynamically and effectively. 

Regarding the infrastructure modernization works proposed by the company, Aeropuertos Uruguay indicated that the stages agreed with the authorities are scheduled, which include the start of works on the fence and perimeter road in the second half of 2023, and the start in 2024 of the works in the terminal for an estimated inauguration at the beginning of 2025.

The works include the construction of a new passenger terminal, building improvements in the control tower, the reconditioning and expansion of runways and platforms.

"We are engaged. We have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that a modern and safe airport brings to a community. That is why we want to generate the same process in Durazno as well”, stressed Arrosa.