eKathimerini — Greece has moved a step closer to upgrading its flight monitoring system, which was purchased in 1997 and is nearing the end of its working life. Infrastructure Minister Christos Spirtzis said Tuesday that he is proceeding with the tender process for the project to improve the current system.
However, experts say that a new system will be required soon despite the upgrade.
“The current radar system has been upgraded three or four times at a cost of around 30 million euros, which is around what a new one costs,” said Panayiotis Hatzakis, general secretary of the Union of Air-Traffic Controllers.
He added that the current system will not comply with international standards by 2020.
Questions have been raised over why the ministry is choosing to upgrade the system now – at a cost of 9 million euros – given that it is considering purchasing a new one in around a year.
According to ministry sources, the latest upgrade would be incorporated into the new system and is necessary as installing a new flight monitoring package will take some time.
