Pilots: Dominican Republic Exposing Itself to Air “Catastrophe”

SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic is exposing itself to an air “catastrophe” if it does not correct the existing deficiencies with the radar at the eastern Punta Cana international airport, where several planes have passed too close to one another in recent months, pilots said on Monday. The country’s National Pilots Association, or ANP, accused the aviation authorities of hiding the real condition of the radar at the Punta Cana airport, a radar unit that they said is unable to determine an aircraft’s altitude, speed and flight direction. “We deeply regret that a situation of this kind is being continued by hiding things in an irresponsible manner and, above all, that the said lack of responsibility is being fostered by those who have been designated to maintain and preserve healthy and safe air travel,” said the entity in a statement. The ANP said that the Punta Cana airport is one of the most active terminals in the country with an average of 200 flights per week. In the communique, the organization said that the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute has had the “repeated attitude” of “hiding” the situation of continuous too-close approaches of aircraft to one another and the resulting danger that represents. “In the face of that situation, we have decided to take the case before the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations so that it sends to the country a commission of experts that will evaluate the case and prepare a report on the ... Punta Cana radar,” the ANP added. In accord with the measures taken by the pilots association, the Attorney General’s Office of Santo Domingo province scheduled the ANP representatives to appear before it on Tuesday to provide more details regarding their complaints

Go back \| Date: 03 Oct 2009

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