Hopes of improved Iraqi economy come with new airfield tower (22/09/05)

The US Army Corp of Engineers is working to assist Ninawa Province in becoming a major commercial centre in northern Iraq.

A new airfield tower is being constructed

USACE is providing quality assurance oversight as a Turkish contractor, EMTA Construction Co., builds a new air traffic control tower (ATCT) at Mosul Airport, on FOB Diamondback, Iraq.

Iraq Air has committed to providing air service to this airport in northern Iraq when the tower is completed in June 2006. This commitment will bring international air travel to the Ninawa Province, which USACE believes will attract international commerce.

Frank Scopa, the Corps’ Mosul Office Area Engineer, spoke of the positive social changes increased commerce will bring: “With an improvement in commerce, there will be significant alternatives to joining the insurgency, which should lead to a reduction in violence,” Scopa said. “There will be choices not available today due to the extreme unemployment in Ninawa.”

According to Scopa, this project should lead the effort for the economic recovery of Ninawa Province. There is very little capital investment in the area, but projects like the building of this tower should help the local economy to expand.

During construction, the project employs 150 workers daily for approximately seven months. Once completed, the project will employ approximately 50 workers in permanent airfield maintenance, operations and air traffic control jobs.

Tower construction is not the only improvement planned for the Mosul airfield. Other improvements consist of new navigation aids for the Instrument Landing System, which includes the Distance Measuring Equipment, Glide Slope Approach and the Control and Monitor System. The new system will also include a Precision Approach Path Indicator and new communications equipment. Additionally, there will be new lighting for the existing runways and taxiways, as well as new signage.

Source: PortalIraq