In the presence of His Excellency the Constitutional President of the Republic of Guatemala, Dr. Jimmy Morales, the Minister of Social Development of Guatemala and President of COCESNA’s Board of Directors, Cap. Carlos Velásquez Monge, from the Director of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, Cap. Francis Argueta, Mr. Enrique Castillo, LATAM & Caribbean Director of INDRA, and Mr. Juan Carlos Trabanino Aguirre, Executive President and Secretary of COCESNA’s Board of Directors, formed the main table that presided over the inauguration of the Approach Control Center and Secondary Surveillance Radar in Flores, Guatemala, with the distinguished presence of authorities, industry representatives, special guests and officials.
Juan Carlos Trabanino, after the protocolary greeting to the main table, the members of the Board of Directors and special guests, in his capacity as Executive President of COCESNA, said:
“For the Central American Air Navigation Services Corporation this year 2019 has been very important, because in congruence with our strategic plan, with the investment plan and the modernization of equipment for operational safety in the region we delivered these works to the Member State of Guatemala. In May we had the opportunity to inaugurate the approach control center and radar at the Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and then last November we inaugurated the Bluefields radar in Nicaragua, which are part of the projects included in COCESNA’s current 2016-2020 investment plan, as a component of the investments in radars and aeronautical surveillance systems.
Additionally he continued, “In accordance with the Global Air Navigation Plan, the Renewal of equipment and in the case at hand of the Secondary Surveillance Radar in Niktun, Flores, with an investment of approximately US $1, 7 million, constitutes a strategic point for the State of Guatemala, counting with an excellent Radar coverage; to optimize costs, improve the provision of ATS services from the new Mundo Maya Approach Control Center, whose invested amount was US $2,421,552.00 and which we also inaugurated this December 19, 2019, which will further strengthen the safety of the airspace responsibility of Guatemala.”
“This project from its inception had the objective of supplying a new Secondary Radar System Mode S with ADS-B receiver, with the most developed technology available in the market, provided by Indra Company, today it is already fully operational and available, with a coverage of more than 256 NM.”
“It is well recognized that the air transportation sector is booming throughout the Central American region, as a key region of the world economy motivated by the transportation of passengers mainly for tourism and business purposes, which has increased in recent years by air.”
“The operation of this Radar will allow the use of new technologies, such as ADS-B, which allow for greater accuracy, integrity,
reliability, availability and security, complying with the international standards established by ICAO, for radar data and also offers the opportunity for greater interaction and integration of Air Traffic with adjacent control centers.
The project also integrates the following subsystems:
- Co-assembly co-assembly of Radar Antenna
- Local Monitoring and Control System.
- Radar Visualization Positions in different Technical Supervision rooms.
- Equipment for radar data recording and evaluation.”
“The upgrade of the Voice Communications System to GAREX of the Mundo Maya APP was also contemplated, for a total amount of USD 322,561.00, with an execution term of 6 months. In addition, the Generators and the Air Conditioning system were renewed.”
“Since its origin, COCESNA’s nature was contemplated in its constitutive agreement to be an International Institution of Central American Integration of public service, with legal personality and own patrimony, which has allowed it to be self-sustainable, promoting to generate its income the updating, improvement and renewal of equipment in order to provide the best air navigation services to the Users, both in its own facilities and facilities, distributed in the Region, as well as in those of each of the six (6) Member States that comprise it”.
“The Comprehensive Investment Plan for the five-year period 2016 to 2020 exceeds US $80 million dollars (about 617 million Quetzales) in investment; in order to meet the needs and requirements of Central America, taking into consideration the regional plans arising from the global air navigation plan established by the World Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to ensure integration, optimization of resources, compatibility of services in homogeneous airspaces.”
“COCESNA has been a model of integration for sixty (60) years in providing air navigation services to the Central American States and Airlines, and an important reference for ICAO, to jointly achieve that no country in the region is left behind the advances demanded by the innovation and development of international civil aviation. This commits us more and more to work together, creating greater opportunities for all Central Americans and providing the best quality in the services provided by our Staff to the Users”.
He then concluded his speech by saying: “I am very grateful for this opportunity to address such distinguished guests, I conclude by expressing that next February 26, 2020, we will celebrate as a benefit of regional integration, COCESNA’s 60 years of operation and we also hope to continue for many more years contributing to the development of air navigation in Central America, through our investment plan and strategy for the five-year period 2020-2025. Without further ado, I wish you a blessed Christmas in your families and a prosperous 2020 for you and your States”.
