NEWS FLASH
Skopje Airport is facing operational constraints and flight delays after the breakdown of its only functioning radar head, leaving controllers unable to track aircraft below 2.900 meters. With the radar out of service, air traffic controllers have reverted to procedural separation methods, spacing aircraft further apart and slowing the overall traffic flow. While the Macedonian Air Navigation Service Agency (M-NAV) has assured that safety remains intact, the shift has reduced capacity and led to occasional holding patterns for inbound flights. Skopje Airport was previously served by two radar heads, but one had already been out of service, leaving the facility dependent on a single unit. With the remaining radar now broken, controllers have lost full coverage.
Repairs to the broken radar have been delayed as the necessary replacement part is being sourced from Italy. In the meantime, aircraft are being separated using non-radar procedures, which reduce the number of movements controllers can handle per hour and cause occasional holding patterns for arriving flights. A new radar system has already been purchased but has yet to be installed, remaining in storage at M-NAV’s facilities until the transition can be carried out without disrupting airport operations.
So that's why there are so many delayed fights yesterday and today. Austrian even cancelled its Vienna flight.
ReplyDeleteThere could be delayed landings , 4 planes can land in 1 hour instead of 6-7 , I dont know why Austrian cancelled that flight
DeleteSMH
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've been following in the press, M-NAV is a nest of nepotism. They obviously prioritize taking care of their "human resources" instead of having an operational radar system.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteNepotism in M-NAV?
DeleteSomething really unbelievable for the region....
Key regional hub
ReplyDeleteSlowly becoming , last year the same radar get broken at Frankfurt airport and all flights were delayed with an hours , this could happen to anyone. The thing is SKP have brand new radar and its not installed yet
DeleteBetter airports have more than one
DeleteSkopje has also 2 , one is on the tower other one is in the nearby hill Banjski rid , that one is broken , it happend couple years ago now the same , the one on the tower is not in function with a years. There is brand new one and they said it will be installed and put in function by February 2026
DeleteThere is brand new radar sitting next to the tower with a months unboxed , I dont understand why they dont install it and why they were waiting for this moment the radar go get broke because it is very old.
ReplyDeleteBalkanska posla
ReplyDeleteEverything is possible in Balkan countries - North Macedonia. I'm not surprise. even this radar that is working if it gets broken, i wouldn't get surprised. to install the new radar the government is looking for closed nepotism company to install it, so until they find it, it takes time.
ReplyDelete