Mepa clears traffic control tower in Ħal Far

The planning authority gave its go-ahead for a 39-metre high air traffic control radar tower in Ħal Far, which will be a link in a chain to provide multiple radar coverage.

Recommended for approval, the application was submitted by the Malta Air Traffic Services, which already run two radar sites, one in Luqa and another in Dingli.

The tower in Ħal Far will form part of a system called a radar chain, where all data gathered from the radar sensors is transmitted to the operating centre at Luqa tower.

Multiple radar coverage is essential for modern air traffic control and the Ħal Far development forms part of a programme to upgrade the surveillance equipment in Malta. In fact, it forms part of fulfilling Malta’s commitment under an EU European Convergence Implementation Plan to have triple radar coverage in the western sector of the Malta Flight Information Region.

The 10-storey tower will cover a footprint of 230 square metres with a height of 39.3 metres.

The site is presently an undeveloped tract of land which is uncultivated and not arable. Although outside scheme, it falls within an area that is listed for the use of government administrative entities.

During the consultation process, the Civil Aviation Department pointed out that the site was very close to the approach and take-off paths of the main runway, saying it would have been better to build the tower elsewhere. However, the department said that, given the constraints of finding a suitable location for this “essential” aviation equipment, it accepted the proposal.

The Environment Health Directorate had no objection but requested an emissions radiation audit from the Malta Communications Authority before the radar started working.