Doha International Airport signs New Runway Debris Detection System from QinetiQ

Doha International Airport is to install Tarsier, a new runway debris detection system developed by international defence and security technology company QinetiQ.

Tarsier will detect foreign object debris (FOD) on the single runway at Doha International Airport, which at 4,572 metres is one of the longest in the world. Three radars will scan the runway area 24 hours a day and in all weathers, locating objects that could be drawn into engines or damage aircraft systems.

Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Doha International Airport and also CEO of Qatar Airways, said, “Safety is an absolute priority for us and Doha International Airport has an excellent safety record. We see Tarsier as an integral part of our safety management system because it inspects the runway continuously with no disruption to aircraft movements. This will bring us both cost and operational benefits, but more importantly, is a commitment to have an airport operation which is fully safety driven.”

Phil McLachlan, Managing Director of QinetiQ Airport Technologies added, “Qatar is experiencing strong growth in airport traffic and its ambitious plans for a new, state-of-the-art airport are well on the way to being realised. This agreement marks an important step in the development of the QinetiQ Airport Technologies business and I am delighted that Tarsier will now play an important part in the growth of Doha International Airport.”

The number of passengers using Doha International Airport has rocketed from 2 million to 10 million over the last 10 years. As a result, the New Doha International Airport is expected to open in 2009 with a capacity of 50 million passengers a year once fully completed. QinetiQ and Qatar Airways are currently in negotiations about the potential installation of a Tarsier system to cover the two runways at the New Doha International Airport when they go operational.

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