Cuba Picks Russian Air Traffic Control ahead of US Flights

Cuba Picks Russian Air Traffic Control ahead of US Flights
Cuban Firm Aviaimport Closed Deal with Russian Giant Azimut to Modernize
the Island's Airports
JULY 4, 2016 AT 12:23 PM

The largest Russian manufacturer of electronic devices for civil
aviation will be in charge of creating a new air traffic control system
for Cuba.

The news comes days after the Cuban government refused visas to US
congressmen who were traveling to the island to inspect and certify the
conditions of airports before regular flights between Cuba and the
United States can resume.

Read more: First American-Owned Hotel Opens in Cuba
Read more: Cuban Communists Seize "Counter-Revolutionary" Literature at
Customs
The Russian company Azimut signed a contract with the Cuban state
company Aviaimport to transfer technology, information, and research in
civil aeronautics for air traffic control on the island.

The deal includes the delivery of the source-code and the execution of
tests. Likewise, the Russian company will offer training for the Cuban
employees who will be in charge of the system's operation.

The agreement between the state-owned firm and Azimut will last until
June 2017 and the system is expected to be implemented in 10
international airports in Cuba.

Currently, Cuban airports use an ORACLE-based system, acquired from
Canada in 2000, which officials deem outdated.

It's worth noting that six airlines were authorized by the US government
to operate 155 weekly flights for almost 20,000 passengers between five
US cities and nine Cuban destinations.

The US Department of Transportation ruled that American Airlines,
Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines,
and Sun Country Airlines can start the necessary procedures with Cuban
authorities to start operating routes within the next months.

Source: Cuba Picks Russian Air Traffic Control ahead of US Flights -
https://panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2016/07/04/cuba-airports-russian-system-us-flights/