Runway success

The runway debris detection radar system developed by QinetiQ in the wake of the Paris Concorde crash has been bought by Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Known as Tarsier, the system can detect small items of potentially dangerous debris on airports runways and is expected to be installed at YVR early next year.

Four Tarsier radar units will be installed at YVR, covering the airport's north and south parallel runways, each of which is approximately three kilometres long. A display unit, providing the Airport Authority's operations team with an all-weather, round-the-clock runway picture, will be installed in YVR's Operations Centre.

Debris on runways is an issue for both airports and airlines. The estimated worldwide annual cost of debris damage and delays is $4 billion and, in rare cases, debris damage has been known to result in loss of life. A small strip of metal on the runway was a major contributory factor in the crash of Concorde flight AF4590 on 25 July 2000 as it left Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.