The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) is to invest $2.57bn to build two new air traffic control towers at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay.

The investment is part of a comprehensive $4.2bn modernisation and upgrading programme to replace major components of its communications, navigation and surveillance systems.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

JCAA director general Nari Williams-Singh said: "The upgrades will see our radars, automation systems, voice communication and control systems and air traffic control simulation systems upgraded.

"This is a 21-month project, which has already commenced, and we should see some benefits over the next 12 to 15 months."

"This is a 21-month project, which has already commenced, and we should see some benefits over the next 12 to 15 months.

"We are also in contract negotiation stage for a new instrument landing system to be installed at the Sangster International Airport."

Some projects under the modernisation and upgrading programme have been already completed while some are ongoing or scheduled for implementation.

Under the proposed project, radars which are the primary mode of aircraft surveillance will be replaced by Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology in 2017.

In addition, the authority is evaluating bids for upgrading the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) to the more data centric Aeronautical Information Management (AIM).

The projects that have been completed have resulted in the commissioning of a newly upgraded microwave radio network that minimises the risk of critical data loss, for Jamaica’s Flight Information Region, in December 2014.

According to Singh, Jamaica has experienced continuous growth in air traffic movement over the past five years with about 65,000 total aircraft movements in 2014.